27th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Habakkuk 1:2-3, 2:2-4
Ps. 95:1-2, 6p7, 8-9
2 Timothy 1:6-8, 13-14
Luke 17:5-10
Our western culture is based on practical knowledge. The whole technological development is the fruit of practical knowledge. Practicality is the key word.
However, there is a danger that relationships fall into the same category. The great danger is that we reduce relationships, even with the Lord, to practicality. In other words, I say some prayers, I attend church on Sunday, I pick up some volunteering activities and financially support my community. In this, I have fulfilled the obligation.
Simple question is repeated so often: What is the required minimum? In other words, what is the practical knowledge I need to have to fulfill my obligation.
All is about practicality. However, interpersonal relations cannot be based on practicality. There is more to it. In relations, intimacy is the key word instead! Intimacy means time to listen, openness to accept, silence that allows to be heard, to be received. Willingness to share. Patience. Presence.
Psalm 95 we pray today challenges us to leave behind practical knowledge and to enter an interpersonal relationship. We repeatedly sing if today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts (Ps 95:7).
We listen to the readings from the Scriptures; it is the Word of God. St. Paul says the Word of God is living, sharper than any two edge sword (Hebr. 4:12) We do hear his voice reading the Old Testament, singing the Psalms, reading the epistles of St. Paul and the Gospel. It is good to remind ourselves that we are not reading a dead text but the word of the living God.
The Fathers of the Church teach us that as the Son of God took on himself the human flesh – was incarnated – so likewise the Word of God took on the flesh of human words. The words of God, his voice, were incarnated into human words, into the text of the Scriptures. Now the challenge is full. Today you hear his voice, do not harden your heart. Let the Word of God enter your heart, not only your ear. Do not reject the Word!
Consequently, what is the minimum required to hear the Word, not to harden our heart? Come, let us sing joyfully to the LORD; let us acclaim the Rock of our salvation. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us joyfully sing psalms to him (Ps 95:1-2). The minimum to hear His voice and let it penetrate the heart is thanksgiving. Attitude of gratitude. Recalling, naming, and giving thanks for specific blessings the Lord has given me.
Mark, the monk, the disciple of St. John Chrysostom, gives the following advice. You should, with indelible memory, and ever mindful of giving it your unceasing attention, recollect for yourself all the things that God, in his love for humankind, has done for you (…) how your soul has often been rescued from so many dangers or how, despite falling into so many evil ways and often willingly slipping into sin, it was not rightfully handed over (to judgment) but instead the long suffering and benevolent Master, overlooking its sins, protected it, awaiting its conversion (…) the soul willingly enslaved itself to its enemies and evil spirits on account of the passions, yet God continually supported it, watching over the soul and providing for it in every way (…) who, having a good conscience, keeping these things in mind, will not at all times persevere with a contrite heart?
Acknowledging the blessings cleanses our hearts and allows us truly to hear his voice! It helps us to enter the intimacy the Lord is calling us to live. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him (Rev 3:20). It is in this way that the celebration of the Eucharist becomes not only the climax of the life of the Church, but it becomes my own personal climax! To be specific in thanksgiving and thus tunning in our hearts to the Lord is quite a practical thing, is it not?