Pondering the Word …

The audience to whom the author of Deuteronomy was writing (c. 7^th century, BCE) saw the wisdom of the nation as more important than the military might or richness the early tribal Israelites likely held as paramount. It makes me reflect on whether nations of the world today value societal/national wisdom and just laws, particularly my own country of the United States, where so much focus is on “rugged individualism” and personal rights.

In the gospel today, Jesus focuses on the individual as well: “that person.” He explains to the crowd how it is internal dis-ease that defiles a person, not things that enter from the outside. Of course, the context of this teaching has to do specifically with Jewish dietary laws, but it got me thinking how the lack of community wisdom can indeed cause an individual to lose their inherent God-given goodness and to commit the kinds of sins Jesus enumerates. Poverty, abuse, racism, bigotry…all the horrible, societal sins unwise nations fail to address can become internalized and can make individuals sinful.

I wonder if this kind of interpretation of today’s scripture—how the lack of societal wisdom can lead to individual sin—has been preached before. I hope so. And if not, I hope it will be.

Mon, Sep 2: “How I loved Your teaching. All day long it was my theme” (Ps 119, v 97, Hebrew translation). The Septuagint translation refers to meditating on God’s law all day, but this Hebrew version speaks volumes to me. Most of us don’t’ get to “meditate” all day. We go from activity to activity without much time to reflect (although I think we should, but let’s be real here!). So, what if we were to make God’s commandment to love our theme, the music to which we dance each day? Provision: Live in love! Each morning, after thanking God for another day, commit to making your theme for the day a song of love. Choose a song or hymn to wake up to that helps you to focus on love and try your best to dance!

Tue, Sep 3: “We speak not with words taught by human wisdom, but with words taught by the Spirit, describing spiritual realities in spiritual terms” (1 Cor 2:10-16). “Spiritual realities.” This might sound to some like a contradiction in terms. Paul says we know ourselves by virtue of the spirit within. Is it the spirit of the world or the Spirit of God? Provision: Strive to make the “Spiritual” the “Real “in your life. Reflect on the phrase “spiritual realities.” What does that say to you? One way to better integrate these two things is to recognize the Spiritual is indeed the “Real” (with a capital R). It’s looking back to yesterday’s reflection that if we are being “real” (small r), we rarely take time during the day to reflect. See if you can be aware of spiritual realities today by stopping to consider which spirit—the spirit of the world or the Spirit of God—is at work in you.

Wed, Sep 4: “What is Apollos, and what is Paul? Ministers through whom you became believers just as the Lord assigned each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God caused the growth” (1 Cor 3:1-9). Some of you know I have a like/dislike relationship with Paul. I read his letters with an eye for what I disagree with. Quite presumptuous I know, but I think he’d really like that! I’d like to discuss with him the idea that he “planted.” God plants the seed, the Spirit, the desire for union in each one of us. All any human can do is to help nurture it. Provision: Recognize the seed of God in others. I once heard Episcopal priest and author Edwina Gately talk about her early years in ministry. She was headed to Africa, in her mind, to bring God to that continent. She quipped, “Wasn’t I surprised when I arrived to find God already there!” As we minister to others, it’s important to recognize the Spirit of God already present. It might look different from what we think it should look like, but we acknowledge and respect how God is alive within them. We tend the vineyard God has already planted.

Thu, Sep 5: “Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD? Or who may stand in his holy place?” (Ps 24). “Who shall ascend onto the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? There is no one but us. There is no one to send, nor a clean hand, nor a pure heart on the face of the earth… but only us…and we ourselves unfit, not yet ready, having each of us chosen wrongly, made a false start, failed, yielded to impulse and the tangled comfort of pleasures, and grown exhausted…But there is no one but us. There never has been” (From Holy the Firm by Annie Dillard, 1998). Provision: Answer the call. We doubt ourselves, like Peter in today’s gospel: “Depart from me, Lord, for I am sinful.” But we remember the great words of Paul (see, I like him!): “For when I am weak, then I am strong as the power of Christ rests on me” (adapted). “Do not be afraid.” Answer the call.

Fri, Sep 6 “And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good’” (Lk 5: 33-39).
Well, this is topical! There are forces in our churches and in our nation-states that resist growth and change, that want to go backwards. But what is Real in the Spirit does not regress. All things are being made new! Provision: What do you fear? What is the “new wine” you resist, spiritually or practically? Do you dismiss change out-of-hand? What keeps you from even tasting the new wine of growth and transformation?

Elaine Ireland has a passion for working with parents and anyone who struggles to maintain a sense of God’s love and peace amid the day-to-day challenges of life. She has a master’s degree in Spiritual and Pastoral Care from the Pastoral Counseling department at Loyola, Maryland, with a focus on developmental psychology and spiritual guidance.  Rooted in Ignatian spirituality, she is a writer, retreat and workshop leader, and presenter on topics such as pastoral parenting, “letting go,” and finding the spiritual in the midst of everyday life. She lives in Ellicott City, Maryland with her husband, Mark and children, David and Maggie.

We hope you enjoy "Come and See!" and we welcome your input. Please contact Elaine Ireland at ehireland@gmail.com with questions, comments, and responses, or to receive Provisions free via email.