Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Change is difficult. Just ask anyone who has been in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) for a while. In talking to a friend this week about AA, today’s readings came to mind. My friends’ 5th Anniversary of sobriety is in a few days. He recalled to me a time when his own decisions to use and abuse alcohol and drugs made his life extremely difficult. Tough times often led to more abusive behavior. The cycle was hard to break. What struck me the most about our conversation was how my friend now reacts serenely when tough things occur. His faith remains steadfast. He explained “God doesn’t wish bad upon us. Often it is our own choices that bring us tough times.” For my friend, being in recovery has shown him that God can use our suffering to make good things happen out of the bad. While AA demands a radical change altogether, when one reads their “Big Book” one can understand that change is a process we make step by step. Today’s readings suggest a process as well, even though at first glance changing may seem cursory. Paul is writing to the community in Colossae about being a new person in Christ. His language is both encouraging and challenging, yet through his frank tone one can see that Paul understands that becoming one with Christ is a process. St. Paul’s suggestions (rules) for being alive with Christ include putting away anger, malice, slander and not allowing obscenities from ones mouth. Paul tells us, “Put to death, then the parts of you that are earthly.” (Col. 3:5a) Summarizing this whole section Paul gives a big picture glimpse of how to live. “Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” (Col 3:3)
Today’s gospel from Luke of the “Blessings and Woes” is a Lucan summary of the Kingdom of God and who Jesus has come to save. This reading, like Paul’s, is one of both encouragement and challenge. Both of these are attributes most of us need since none of us hit the mark every time; in fact, there are times when the Kingdom seems far away and out of reach. It is then when we need to reflect on the issues we are having and honestly assess the changes we need to make in order to right our course. It is only when we challenge and change what is unacceptable in our own lives that we can fully enter into a life hidden with Christ in God. We must always remember that we don’t do this alone for: “The Lord is compassionate towards all his works.” We like the Colossians, or like those in AA belong to a faith community. This group of people will share both our joys and pain. They can help us find serenity.

Changing is difficult, yet serenity is possible. Pick a tangible thing to change in ones life and then work towards that goal. Part of changing might be that one needs to look an issue as part of God’s plan for you. One prayer that could help you with this journey might include:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

- Mike Mongomery