To Understanding Through Action : 27th Week of the Liturgical Year, October 2-8, 2011

Jonah chapters 1-4; Malachi ch. 3; Joel chs.1-4; Luke, chs.10-11.

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The readings are about Jonah’s cultural narrowness that made him resist doing God’s work; about societal conversion, about keeping the “end time” in view to give us direction and hope—and how the Rite of Communion helps us do this. In short, the focus is on our call to transform the world as stewards of the kingship of Christ. And to do it through truth and love.

Two weeks ago I was observing the Church trying to do this on Guam. Last week I was speaking in Illinois to “Cursillistas” committed to “transforming environments.” Next week I will be giving a parish mission in Mississippi, preaching the Immersed in Christ plan as a means to live out fully our baptismal commitment to be Christ and be Disciples, Prophets, Priests and Stewards of his kingship. If we live out these five fundamental mysteries of Christian life, we will have “life to the full” and communicate it to others. All the Reflections I write for Abbey Press teach and develop understanding of these five mysteries and support commitment to living them. But I am taking a new approach.

So far I’ve been “top down”—explaining the five mysteries and ending with a very simple, practical suggestion for making each one an experienced element of life. But on Guam, talking to school children, I began instead with the five simple suggestions, and gave as much explanation of the mysteries as I could to help the children live them with understanding and motivation. Now I am going to take the same approach with adults. Starting with you!

Do these five things and you will grow into understanding of the five-fold mystery of divine life that you received at Baptism.

1. Form the habit of saying the WIT prayer all day long: “Lord, do this with me, do this in me, do this through me.” You will grow into awareness of the new identity you received when you became Christ through Baptism (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 795).

2. Put a bible on your pillow and promise God you will never sleep without reading one line. You will experience, over time, the mystical gift of divine enlightenment as a disciple.

3. Promise God you will never ask again whether something is right or wrong, but whether it bears witness to the values taught by Jesus. You will gradually become aware of the “Gift of the Spirit” empowering you to bear witness to Christ as a prophet.

4. In every encounter with another person, surrender to letting Christ in you express himself to give healing and life. Without being explicit, let your words and actions express an attitude toward each consistent with your faith, hope and love. This turns every encounter into life-giving ministry as a “priest in the Priest” and a “victim in the Victim,” giving your “flesh for the life of the world.”

5. Make a point of noticing anything around you that could be changed to make the world better. Just noticing is an expression and an experience of the responsibility you accepted as a steward of the kingship of Christ. Do what you realistically can to change things, but notice everything. This is a mystical awareness of accepting your divine commission to establish the reign of God.

If you do these five things, you will grow into the mystical experience of the mystery of your Baptism. If you do them, you will understand what I try to explain. If you do not do them, anything I try to explain is useless.

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