The people to whom Jesus was speaking in this Gospel would have understood His references a little more clearly than we do. The teaching is not meant to be taken literally. It is a metaphor. Many of the people to whom Jesus was speaking were farmers. Injuries to hands, feet and eyes were the kinds of injuries farmers incurred frequently. So, they would not have flinched at the descriptive injury. Also, in Jesus’ time the idea of losing an offensive body part to prevent oneself from falling into sin was a common type of proverbial saying. Stories were also written with this underlying thought. The entire story of Oedipus is an example. Oedipus removes his own eyes rather than look at the children he begot with his own mother. He did not know her to be his mother, but his lack of knowledge did not make him innocent. Nor did he know the man he had slayed at the crossroads was his father. Jesus’ audience would have fully understood these sayings as metaphors. We may cry: “I didn’t know!” That may be our reason; but it is no excuse.
So, what was Jesus saying metaphorically? It is a story of commitment. The people to whom Jesus is talking are people who have agreed and want to follow him. I guess one can say Jesus is asking them, “Just what do you believe? Do you believe in me as the Messiah? Do you believe in God’s way or do you believe in the ways of the world?”
How do we fare today? What do we believe about our calling to discipleship? To conversion of life? It is easy to stay committed when the times are easy. It is easy to say, “Yes, Lord, I believe,” when we are not asked to do anything out of the ordinary. But, how about when the times are tough? What do we believe when we are asked to do something we really don’t want to do? How do we respond when we are asked to take an unpopular stand? To side with someone who is being ridiculed? To speak our mind when we suspect it will be a minority position? The real question for us is: Is following Jesus Christ the most important thing in my life? Or does something else take its place when being a Christian is not convenient?
Jesus calls us to a radical faith. How do we make credible the expression “radical hospitality?” We are called to be radical not “radical” as in being crazy, but radical as different, radical as turning the world’s understanding of life upside down. Jesus is calling us to a radical expression of all aspects of our faith. Jesus calls us to love our enemies when the world says destroy – bomb them, shoot them, destroy their reputation. Listen to Jesus who says the greatest gift we can give is our life for the sake of another. Life in this sense can often mean the gift of our time, our attention, our care and concern in concrete, real-time actions. These are radical ideas for this world. Alone we cannot hope to be that generous. However, we know that with God all things are possible. Jesus has set the example. He leads the way; He models the behaviors we are to imitate. His is an attitude of tolerance, compassion and acceptance of the gifts of others. Jesus challenges us to be humble, inclusive and tolerant.
Jesus offered his life for us and He taught the twelve how to do the same. They scattered and hid at first, but eventually they got it right. They were not perfect, but they believed. Jesus is calling us to do the same. We may not always get it right; sometimes we falter. There will be those times when we do get it right. At those times we humbly say, “Thank you, Lord – to You be the praise – that in all things God may be glorified!” Ponder the closing sentences of the first reading, words attributed to Moses: “Would that all people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow His spirit on them all.”
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
Our chaplain will be in Lourdes and Ireland from October 4-18. There will be no Mass at the monastery during that time. The Sisters and our faith community will attend Sunday Mass (October 6 and 13) in one of the parishes. May God bless Fr. John on pilgrimage and his family visit to his homeland.
