9 July 2019 - wrestling with God

Today's Readings

(Audio)

But Jacob said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."

This is an acceptable attitude for Christians. When we believe something is a genuine blessing we are called to persist in seeking it. Jesus tells us to knock and keep knocking, to ask and keep asking (see Matthew 7:7). His parables extol the woman who kept asking the unjust judge until her case was decided favorably as well as the man who knocks at the door in the night until the neighbor is willing to answer. We remember these things. We rightly treat them as invitations to continue to pray. But do we realize that they are calling us to more than merely not giving up? They are calling us to an attitude of actively seeking, one which isn't necessarily easy and might even cause us pain.

Jacob limped along because of his hip.

Although pain and struggle are often involved we must still wrestle for our blessings.

"You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel,
because you have contended with divine and human beings
and have prevailed."

If we are willing to persist and to wrestle with the angel we can discover our true name and true purpose. If we merely let the angel depart we may miss the blessing, at least until our next opportunity. This attitude is meant to strengthen not only our relationship with God but our relationship with society. We are called to hunger and thirst for justice. This is no mere metaphor. Rather, we are called to seek the good as wrestlers seeking to win or as those who race seeking the prize. 

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it (see First Corinthians 9:24).

Let's be realistic. We don't win against angels unless they let us win. We can't make changes in society without God's help. But we have a coach who is pairing us against the opponents we need in order to help us to grow.

Our motivation should not be pride or self-aggrandizement. Rather, compassion should drive us on.

At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them
because they were troubled and abandoned,
like sheep without a shepherd.

Indeed, the blessings will mostly be for others rather than for ourselves. But they are assuredly even more worth the fight.

Hear, O LORD, a just suit;
attend to my outcry;
hearken to my prayer from lips without deceit.