“But blessed are your eyes, because they see,
and your ears, because they hear.
Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
"Life is unfair!" they say, and the equality of all human beings is simply untrue. Some are larger, some are wiser, some are richer, some are healthier. Anyone who supposes life should be fair and people should be equal must commit themselves to the endless chore of treating others equally and fairly. And to do so, they have to be unfair to themselves; they should consistently act like the least and last of all.
The Church points to the Lord and his saints as those who have actually lived that way. Few saints started out with that attitude; their bios attest to many incidents of unkindness and downright wickedness. But at some point the Divine Inspiration which impelled Jesus from the moment of his conception fell upon our saints and they responded freely and generously. Franciscans, like the members of all religious communities, point to their founder as a sterling example of that humility.
But it's easier and seems more reasonable to embrace the inequity, and to take care of oneself first. I have heard several preachers begin their interpretation of the Two Greatest Commandments with, "Love yourself!" They see a society founded upon the myth of women's inferiority in the home and workplace; they hear their cry for justice and urge them to "love yourself first."
The Lord's teaching is more subtle than that, as he explains with his golden rule, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." I should consider what I would want in that person's situation, and how I would be treated. And then I should ask that person about it, and treat them accordingly. (Not everyone wants Tabasco on their eggs as I might.)
In today's gospel the Lord recognizes the apparent inequity of life. "...many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
Some self-described Christians annul their baptism by refusing the gift. They choose not to see the wonderful works of God; they opt out of hearing God's prophetic word. They don't show up when we offer the Sacraments as signs of mercy; they decline to attend the preaching of the Word.
Hearers of the Word, on His right hand, who are privileged with divine election, commit themselves to equal and just treatment for others. They see the obvious, that every society arbitrarily selects pariahs for unfair treatment. And they choose a preferential option for them. Nor is their love of homeland tainted with a myth of exceptionalism; they have studied its history. They know that every age is violent and every nation, barbaric; but we should nonetheless strive for that justice which conceives peace and gives birth to equality.
The Resurrection of the Lord guarantees our hope. The Father would not allow the mob-inspired, state-sponsored murder of God the Son to finish his Salvation History. Rather, he raised the Lord as a sign of victory and vindication.
"I am still here!" he says to us. And we are still here, working, praying, expecting both justice and mercy.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.