Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
In our reading from First Thessalonians, St. Paul tells us that the day of the Lord may arrive when we least expect it, and he provides us with direction on how to prepare for that day. St. Paul identifies those that are not prepared for this day as being “in darkness” (1 Thes 5:4) and participating in life as though they were asleep. St. Paul’s description of a life without God as a life spent sleeping is a description that we may each be able to appreciate. As we turn away from God, we also turn away from those things that are the most important to us and which bring us the greatest long term happiness. Without a sense of purpose guiding us, we begin to disconnect from the important relationships that make up our lives. When our life is not being viewed through the meaning and purpose that God provides, our experiences become muted and we begin to experience life as though it is a dream where events are randomly happening to us and where we are just along for the ride. St. Paul advises us to avoid this by staying alert. When we orient ourselves toward God, we are fully awake and we begin to appreciate each moment as something that is important and which calls us to respond through meaningful participation.
In our Gospel reading, we find the description of Jesus casting out an unclean spirit from a man who has approached him. In the context of our first reading, this seems to highlight the help that we will receive when we orient our lives toward God. Although it is unlikely that we will need the type of assistance that is described in today’s Gospel, when we are alert and living in the moment with a purpose that is in alignment with God’s plan for us, we will be able to connect with God’s love for us and experience the assistance that this love provides each day.
St. Paul concludes his thoughts in our first reading by directing his audience to “encourage one another.” (1 Thes 5:11) These words remind us that part of being awake and engaged is providing support for others. Assisting others is the action that is irrepressible when we truly align ourselves with God, but it can also work in reverse. If we are lost our confused about where to start in developing our relationship with God, providing assistance and support to others is one place to start. While external action might typically flow outward as a result of our internal relationship with God, we have all experienced the internal benefit that flows back to us when we assist and encourage each other.
- John Sperino