Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time, September 3, 2023
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
You seduced me, and I was seduced
Pope Francis flew over China on his way to Mongolia last week. His custom is to send a note to the leader of those countries he flies over. To China’s president Xi Jinping he wrote:
Assuring you of my prayers for the wellbeing of the nation, I invoke upon all of you the divine blessings of unity and peace.
Wang Wenbin, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, returned these intentions of good will.
This greeting shows the Vatican’s friendliness and goodwill. China is willing to conduct construct dialogues, enhance understanding, accumulate mutual trust, and promote the process of improving relationship between the two sides.
Ah, sweet thoughts. If only the conversations did not continue privately in backrooms, smoke-filled rooms, rooms where the windows do not let in light.
Francis, in the meantime, heads to Mongolia where he will greet a new Catholic community and just as importantly, speak to Mongolia’s long tradition of interfaith existence. Genghis Khan tolerated the different faiths of those he conquered, and today Pope Francis will encourage that same inclusion of all of God’s humanity in prayers and action. Henri Nouwen, who was born in the Netherlands, taught and wrote in the US, and lived his last years with severely disabled men and women at Toronto’s L’Arche Community in Canada spent his life bringing others together.
When we give up what sets us apart from others – not just property but also opinions, prejudices, judgments and mental preoccupations – then we have room within to welcome friends as well as enemies.
Enemies don’t stay that way for long if we open the closed rooms of our governments, but that isn’t really something I can do much about. However, at least I can open the smoke-filled corners of my mind, push open the windows, lean out, and say as Scrooge said, “What’s today, my fine fellow?”
Today! Why CHRISTMAS DAY!
I haven’t missed it!
Pope Francis doesn’t walk much; he is almost always in a wheelchair. I think of FDR, and then the lectionary leads me to think of Jeremiah, not in a wheelchair but struggling against those who were his friends, but now his enemies. How does he respond? He speaks to God.
Lord, you seduced me, and I was seduced. You were too strong for me, and you prevailed. I am an object of laughter all day long, everyone mocks me. Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction, and this word from the Lord brings me insult and reproach all day long.
God hears Jeremiah, but he does not speak. Jeremiah is not relieved of his duties. His voice cannot be stilled.
I say to myself, I will not mention him, I will not speak anymore in his name. But then his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary trying to hold it in; indeed, I cannot!
Jeremiah/Francis/FDR (and now I think of my friend Elizabeth in Urbana) might look like an invalid to those around them, but God sees them as warriors, victorious in heaven.
Does Jeremiah get a glimpse of what God sees?
Yes, he does. And so does the Psalmist, and so does Paul, and so does Jesus. These are not dreams, they are visions, and they come from the mouth of God:
The Lord is with me like a mighty warrior! …
My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God. I have gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, for your kindness is better than life …
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect …
What can anyone give in exchange for his soul? The Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay all according to what they have done.
And so we too continue through the church’s 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time. Listening …
 (Jeremiah 20, Psalm 63, Romans 12, Ephesians 1, Matthew 16)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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