Reverence

Reverence…

In the second reading for this Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord, Peter says to those gathered before him, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35).

Fear (or reverence) of the Lord can be a challenging concept. In fact, it can be tempting to mistake reverence as only being evidenced in what one can see. It can also be tempting to shrink it down to a fixed notion of what reverence looks like.

However, our faith calls us to remember, that we do not have the mind, or the insight of God. It is important to keep in mind that in our humanity, we can get hung up in appearances or distracted in what we think ought to be, and in the process, lose sight of the heart of any matter. It is only God who can truly judge, and help us to know, when and what to say or do in response to a situation(s).

And God, as we learn in the Scripture verses leading up to this Sunday’s second reading (Acts 10:9-33), does exactly this for Peter. God helps Peter to see that the faith that he holds so dear, is not just for those like him, but also for the gentiles. His experience on a rooftop during his midday prayer reveals the following:

He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance. He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners. In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky. A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.” But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.” The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.” This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky. – verses 10-16

As Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said [to him], “There are three men here looking for you. So get up, go downstairs, and accompany them without hesitation, because I have sent them.” – verses 19-20

When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being.” While he conversed with him, he went in and found many people gathered together and said to them, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean. – verses 25-28

However, there’s more than that. God also helps Cornelius. Who like Peter, is not tethered to his own notions, and therefore is able to be open to being guided by the Spirit of God. It is written that Cornelius responds to Peter’s inquiry as to why he called him:

“Four days ago at this hour, three o’clock in the afternoon, I was at prayer in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling robes stood before me and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your almsgiving remembered before God. Send therefore to Joppa and summon Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ So I sent for you immediately, and you were kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to listen to all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” – verses 30-33

During the midday and afternoon hours of prayer, Peter and Cornelius had experiences of God that were different, but the same in Spirit. God gave them both direction, and despite it being an unusual or unexpected ask (for a Jew and a gentile, given practices, tradition, and cultural norms), both men in their fear or reverence of God, allowed themselves to cling to God and this new or different way, rather than a choice rooted in their worldly understanding—one that would have kept them separated… continuing with a wedge in place.

What wedges do you desire God to help humankind overcome today? Knowing that God’s grace flows in many directions on both small and large scales at the same time, what personal wedges would you like to overcome?

Take some time to reflect on this Scripture and how it relates to your experiences, both personal and more community or world-wide.

What happens when you think about God as placing emphasis on internal disposition or drive and how it motivates, informs, and influences one’s actions?

Envision the peace of God embracing you, calling your name, and saying, “You are my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22). Rest in the Lord and listen to what God desires for you.

When the kindness and generous love of God our savior appeared, not because of any righteous deeds we had done but because of his mercy, He saved us through the bath of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he richly poured out on us through Jesus Christ our savior, so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life. – Titus 3:4-7

The Pilot…

To get somewhere, one needs to know where they are in relation to where they want to be and then to come up with a travel plan. However, oftentimes the path or trajectory shifts or ends up being different due to changing circumstances such as weather, terrain, and/or other unexpected issues. And while there are rules of navigation, the ability to adapt and adjust is crucial just as much as precision is.

One way to consider the readings for the Fifth Sunday of Lent is not only as tools, but precision tools for navigation. In the first reading (Jeremiah 31:31-34), the prophet reveals that God is making some adjustments. This is not a change in commitment level or objective, but rather a change in approach.

“I will place my law within them, and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. They will no longer teach their friends and relatives, “Know the Lord!” Everyone, from least to greatest, shall know me—oracle of the Lord—for I will forgive their iniquity and no longer remember their sin.” (verses 33-34)

God’s communication is going to be directed straight to God’s people (not requiring a “go-between” or a 3rd person account), making it more personal and approachable as well as accepting and forgiving—all hallmarks of a healthy relationship.

In the responsorial psalm (Psalm 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15), the psalmist expresses a desire for God to wash away their wrongdoing and states:

“A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me.” (verses 12-13)

Since a heart cannot be clean or pure when it’s holding onto transgressions, resentments, or cold feelings toward oneself or others, the psalmist first asks for God’s mercy (for these things holding them back to be lifted from them). Once the obstacle(s) is removed, the way toward a heart that is unwavering in faithfulness to God is opened because the heart is better able to receive the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit.   

In the Letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul uses two words, in the passage for the second reading (Hebrews 5:7-9), that are sometimes received less enthusiastically than words like mercy and compassion. They are “reverence” and “obedience.” St. Paul writes of Jesus: “…he was heard because of his reverence” and “…he learned obedience from what he suffered”. Jesus’s relationship with God was open and honest; it was sacred. Jesus walked this earth, rooted in a desire to do God’s will and always seeking God as his source of strength and wisdom to face what he needed to face. When taken in the light of Jesus’ example, these words, “reverence” and “obedience”, when chosen with one’s free will express an attitude of humility and faithfulness to God, and of God to us.

Coming to the Gospel (John 12:20-33), Jesus’s words here strike at the heart of navigating. That is, holding onto or maintaining focus on the end goal despite the challenges that arise along the way.

It is written:

“Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat; but if it dies, it produces much fruit.” (verse 23-24).

If one is going to get to their destination, they can’t stay in one place or state of being. A change, shift or movement toward what one desires is necessary.

“I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.” (verse 27)

Jesus knows his purpose or mission through his relationship with God. What are you and God aiming for as you navigate? (If unsure, consider what is fulfilling or rings true with the soul, bringing a sense of peace.)

“Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it and will glorify it again.” (verse 28)

When two wills move together, there is resonance in words and actions. However, there can only be one pilot.

“Now is the time of judgment on this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out.” (verse 31)

Jesus knows who’s leading the way and encourages us toward awareness as well.

May the strength of God pilot us,
may the wisdom of God instruct us,
may the hand of God protect us,
may the word of God direct us.
Be always ours this day and for evermore. – St. Patrick

Bigger than the Shadows…

Observing the valley and the mountain across the way from the top of a ridgeline, the magnificence of the landscape, despite shadows cast by some of the clouds, was undeniable. We found ourselves in awe of the vastness and beauty all around us. It was so much so, that neither the clouds nor the fog that rolled in or the passing rain shower could dull our spirits or lessen the sense of appreciation and joy in our hearts. Recalling the experience, if I had to name it or add a caption, it would simply be, “The Glory of God: Always Bigger than the Shadows.” How true.

In the Gospel of Mark, the Pharisees and scribes ask Jesus, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands” (Mark 7:5)? Jesus sees the shadows for what they are and responds by shedding light and guiding people to Truth.

As Jesus replies to the Pharisees and scribes, he tells them, “You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things” (Mark 7:13). Then he turns his attention back to the people. It is written, “He summoned the crowd again and said to them, ‘Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.’”

While the shadows may attempt to obscure or distort the view, the truth is always revealed to those whose hearts honestly desire and work to see and live within Truth, as they make their way.

“God of might, giver of every good gift, put into our hearts the love of your name, so that, by deepening our sense of reverence, you may nurture in us what is good, and by your watchful care, keep safe what you have nurtured.” (Collect for September 2, 2018)

Shadow

Now when the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.

(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles [and beds].)

So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”

He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
In vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.’

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!

For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and ‘Whoever curses father or mother shall die.’

Yet you say, ‘If a person says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.

You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable.

He said to them, “Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.)

“But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” – Mark 7:1-23