Continuing to Dream with Pope Francis

In June we explored Part I: A Time to See of Francis’ Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future. We learned that three conditions distort our vision of these times: They are narcissism, discouragement, and pessimism. Narcissism is drowning in your own image. Discouragement is seeing only what you’ve lost, and pessimism shuts the door on the future.

 Once we’re wise to these three ‘dis-eases’ infecting our vision, and intentionally resolving to avoid them, we’re ready for Part II: A Time to Choose. Between the third step, to heal and repair, however, there is an important middle step. We need a firm set of criteria to guide us:

•      Knowing we are loved by God
•       Called to serve in solidarity
•       A healthy capacity for silent reflection, and
•      Places of refuge from the tyranny of the ‘urgent.’

Francis then takes us back to foundations: the Beatitudes and the Catholic Social Principles: the preferential option for the poor, the universal destination of goods, solidarity and subsidiarity, and above all, discernment of what we learn according to the signs of the times. This includes the important value of unfinished thinking, when we realize we really don’t know enough about something to reach an opinion. There is always the urge to make a snap rash judgment. The result is a false certitude rather than a tentative certainty. Francis reminds us to that we can always distinguish the voice of the Spirit from the voice of the evil spirit. God’s voice always opens up possibility. The evil spirit will suggest you are worthless and can do nothing.

Because this second Part is so rich in insights, we will limit this reflection to one more topic. The pope focuses on the leading role of women. He states that women are the most affected and the most resilient in this present crisis. Beginning with a reference to the Gospels, Francis recalls that the women were not paralyzed by the tragedy of the cross. They responded, and were the first to be open to the message of the resurrection. He cites women economists who have distinct approaches to addressing financial need, focusing on areas sidelined by mainstream thinking. These women are advocating an economy that sustains, protects, and regenerates, over one that merely regulates and arbitrates. The pope goes right to the ethos of this thinking, ideas formed from direct experience. He warns against reducing women in leadership to their functions rather than their ability to challenge the assumptions of power altogether. This focus of Part II is worth reading. We will pick up other insights from Part II next time…!

The Dimensions of Faith

These weeks of Ordinary Time are full of challenge. Among these challenges are the qualities a disciple of Jesus will need. Foremost of these  is faith. Faith is a way of seeing. Either we are going to use the lens of fear and hopelessness that the culture would offer, or we are going to
look ‘odd’ because we see life differently. We view events through a lens of faith with hope in the power of One who brings life even out of death.

So, note the dimensions of faith in the texts of these August Sundays. First, we learn that faith means ‘being ready,’ for anything. It means that as long as we are ‘on the Way,’ in Jesus, we are safe even in the midst of trauma. Then we learn that faith will divide us from even family
members who choose the fear lens. We will have to stand firm. Next we discover that some folks can be ‘in Jesus’ and not know it. They cling to God while Jesus is hidden from them. Finally, we learn that faith is humble. It does not strut around. It realizes that God is the One who gives
this way of seeing life.

 
Central to this month of August is the Feast of Mary’s Assumption. She is the First of Believers, clinging to the Word of God given her in the deepest darkness. Her Assumption shows us what happens to those who are steadfast in faith. She shines, like her Transfigured Son, beautiful
beyond belief.

 

Lord, I do believe,
Help my unbelief.
The news is heavy these days.
There seems to be no way out
of the endless problems that present themselves:
political, social, medical, religious...
we feel so powerless.
Show us that at such times we need to be
like magnets on a refrigerator door,
hanging on for dear life when we don’t have eyes to see
the force that keeps us where we need to be.
You will bring us through.
Help us to be that little spot of light in the darkness
that proves the darkness has not won.
Amen.

The Goal of Ordinary Time

 We enter the ‘green’ time…the time called ‘ordinary.’ But it isn’t really ordinary at all, because we are no longer ordinary. We have renewed our baptismal new life through the Paschal celebration of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension. We shine from inside out.

 We have been formed for mission and witness during these past fifty days. The Spirit has come to mark us with our seal us a disciple. So now our task in this ‘ordinary’ time is to put on, bit by bit, what a disciple will need. Ordinary time is a school of discipleship. Week by week we say, “So this is what a disciple needs…!”

 First come the big feasts: The Trinity, Corpus Christi, The Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart: Three Persons, One Body, and Two Hearts. The triune mystery lies hidden in all creation. One creature cannot be complete without another. The Body of Christ meets us everywhere, in deepest suffering, crying out to us. The hearts ask our deepest love as we live, move, breathe, and serve.

 In the five Sundays ahead of us we will be given our clues: this is what a disciple of the Word needs: his kind of peace, humbleness, presence, prayer, detachment. The basics…listen.

 I’m ready.

By your Spirit shape me.

Give me what I need.

Without your Breath I’m empty.

Sing your song in me.