Today’s readings had me thinking of an old song that said, “I’m just a poor, wayfaring stranger, a traveling through this land of woe.”
I feel like that at times, but the point I want to make is that
most people, even though they do not know that song, are looking for help in
traveling through this land of woe. We are overwhelmed by the world’s vastness
and by the difficulties that come out of nowhere. Most people feel they need to look for outside
help.
The Pharisees, whom Jesus criticized in the Gospel, tried to
gain help from God by making themselves into models of virtue for lesser people
to follow; and Jesus said that wasn’t working for the Pharisees.
I have a slight acquaintance with the man in the Gospel who
has five sparrows that he would sell for a few pennies. One day in the years
before Korea revived from its war, I was stuck standing for three hours on a
very crowded bus. The way I was wedged in had me staring down at a seated
gentleman who was holding a stiff strand of straw out before him.
I was impressed with the neat vest and jacket his women had
fashioned for him out of a U.S. Army blanket. The straw he was holding out in
front of him was threaded through the stiff little nostrils of three small
birds. I knew enough of customs to guess that he planned on selling the perfect
birds to someone who was laying out a ceremonial meal for their departed
ancestors. Some strangers traveling through this land of woe seek for help by
honoring their ancestors.
St. Paul spoke of the way we Christians look for outside
help. He said we are, “Sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.”
Our Theologians, in explaining what Paul meant, speak of
Uncreated Grace and Created Grace. Our more familiar way of putting that is
that Uncreated Grace is God dwelling in our souls. Created Grace is the
Sanctifying Grace God pours out in our soul.
We wayfaring
strangers need never fear if we keep God at home in our souls.
No comments:
Post a Comment