God, out of omniscience, has given us things in life that may challenge our abilities to handle them, as well as situations that we cannot control. May the Teacher of True Knowing illumine our minds and spirits with the wisdom to know the difference between what we can "handle" and what we can "control." We will then learn the peace that nurtures spiritual life, and passes all our understanding.
- David Rice, ObJN
(Where in your life do you struggle with the distinctions between controlling and influencing? Pray the wisdom to know the difference.)
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ECCL 1:2-11; PS 90:3-6, 12-14 AND 17BC
LK 9:7-9
Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening,
and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
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Reflection on the Scriptures |
Here is a strange idea or prayer-experience. My insecurity is the foundation of my faith which in no way obliterates that insecurity. (Pray with that last thought a while as I have done before writing it.) Faith is fragile and not meant to be so solid and unshakeable that God is an observer of my solidity, false though it might be. Vanity is a pretense, faith is a poverty. Pretenses have to be defended.
Poverty needs to be enjoyed as the most basic of human realities.
Herod would see Jesus and desire to know Him as fact and so would always want more securing of facts. I enjoy the freedom from the restrictions of facts so the faith is something living and freeing. I enjoy seeing Jesus as a relational and ongoing mystery. Herod wanted to capture Jesus in a convenient concept which would allow him to dominate in the vain attempt to be all-powerful. Shakespeare wrote,
“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.” (Henry IV, Part II, Act III, Scene I) The uneasy head of Herod would finally see Jesus wrapped in the poverty of His Passion (Luke 23, 6). Most likely Herod remained uneasy in his own vain search for life. He was so glad to finally be able to ask Jesus questions and hoped Jesus would entertain him with some miracles. Jesus did not flatter Herod’s vanity and so Herod assumed his own political crown and had Jesus mocked and mistreated. In vain
was his hunger for vanity. How impotent was his power.
- by Larry Gillick, S.J.
Revelations of Divine Love
- by Julian of Norwich
Sixteenth Revelation, Chapter 80
"Himself is nearest and meekest, highest and lowest, and doeth all." Love suffereth never to be without Pity"
BY three things man standeth in this life; by which three God is worshipped, and we be speeded, kept and saved.
And where I say that He abideth sorrowfully and moaning, it meaneth all the true feeling that we have in our self, in contrition and compassion, and all sorrowing and moaning that we are not oned with our Lord. And all such that is speedful, it is Christ in us. And though some of us feel it seldom, it passeth never from Christ till what time He hath brought us out of all our woe. For love suffereth never to be without pity. And what time
that we fall into sin and leave the mind of Him and the keeping of our own soul, then keepeth Christ alone all the charge; and thus standeth He sorrowfully and moaning.
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