Daily Reflection for Thursday, July 2, 2020
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday's readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070220.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Amos 7:10-17
Responsorial: Psalm 19:8-11
Gospel: Matthew 9: 1-8
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? Matthew 9:5
One of Jesus’s beautiful gifts was the ability know the hearts of many. It is not a superhuman gift, as I know many people who share this gift. When I am with those who are gifted in this way, they tend to have an emotional and feeling connection with others. They are often called empaths and soak in the emotional energies wherever they find themselves. What is divine in all of this however is that when Jesus was tested, He always stayed true to his center. This must have been very difficult. Yet, he never was swayed; he stayed the course and kept centered in His goodness. Always responding out of love versus resentment, anger, and hate.
Jesus knew he was being tested. Wow, if it was me, I would have reacted in a couple of ways. I either would have given the scribes a piece of my mind and told them how I really felt about their questions. Or I would have second guessed myself, and let their perspectives override mine. And probably felt guilty for saving someone’s life. Jesus however showed us the greater path, and He entered into dialog with the scribes, always grounded in a place that was rooted in love.
Jesus knew that forgiveness was harder than healing the sick. The man was already at peace as his goal was achieved; he made it to Jesus. Jesus, as insightful as He was, knew that the people that really needing healing that day were the scribes. They could not forgive; resentment and anger got in the way.
What a clear message this is for me today. With so much anger, hate, fear and uncertainty surrounding us, less than 6 feet away, Jesus shows us a different way. A way that still challenges injustice and fear yet does it from a place of love. I have much internal work to do to get to that point. I have been turning to Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman to guide me in this lately. In his book, Jesus and the Disinherited, he writes, He (Jesus) recognized with authentic realism that anyone who permits another to determine the quality of the inner life gives into the hands of the other the keys to his destiny.”
My inner life, yes, this is where I will do my work today. Blessed to have great masters to teach me: Jesus and Rev. Thurman.
May your inner life be filled with love,
Margarita Solis Deal