Readings (Dominican Calendar): 2 Tim 4: 1-8; Ps 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a; Mt 5: 13-19
preach the word, be urgent in season and out of season
On the one hand, the word is always "in season" because "now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (cf. 2 Cor 6:2).
On the other hand, we certainly recognize our own era in Paul's words about the coming time "when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own likings." We see the world around us embracing spirituality that says "follow your bliss" and equates personal comfort with spiritual progress. This even has an expression within Christianity, stereotyped as the health and wealth gospel.
Yet do we not also accumulate teachings suited to our own preferences? Do we really give time to the teachers who challenge us? It is a little tricky. We can't just go searching for that which we don't want to hear. We won't find the Good News if we do that. We'll find the world's bad news. But even the Good News has hard things to say to us. And it that can be hard to recognize in ourselves on our own. There are a few things we can do to address these blind spots. The first is to be deep in Scripture and have a Catechism close at hand. If we aren't purposefully ignoring or discenting from the parts we don't like these will go a long way to reveal the areas within ourselves that need progress.
In addition, spiritual direction can be invaluable, if only we can find good spiritual directors. Sadly, that isn't easy. They are few and they are in demand. But a close second is friends with whom we can discuss our spiritual lives with whom we can be mutually accountable. Our friends have a way of seeing the faults in us that we ourselves miss. And when this is on a spiritual level it is transformed from a nuisance to a blessing.
Only when we address our blind spots will we be able to "be steady, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist" and fulfill the ministries with which every one of us have been entrusted. We are supposed to be the salt of the earth, but if we our overwhelmed by our blindspots we will be sidetracked from our true purpose. We will seek pleasure first and hope the kingdom is added unto us. That doesn't work. Jesus wants us to be the light of the world which doesn't happen when we put ourselves first. Our ego is the bushel that covers our lamps. Jesus is offering to lift it from us today. When he does so we can, first see into our own shadowy parts, and then shine for to illuminate the world!
This is the new song about which the psalmist writes. Let us sing it with all that we are.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
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