Friday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
Have you ever been in a situation in which you needed help but were afraid to ask for it, because you didn’t want to appear weak or unknowledgeable? Have you ever reached out to others in ways that are well-intentioned only to find that your efforts are refused, because others do not want to accept help? Pride can be a reason why we fail to do as we should – both in helping others and allowing others to do good towards us. Openness to each other and awareness of the needs of others is very important for community, but pride often becomes a barrier to this process. The scriptures for today give some examples of the way pride works to draws us away from God.
The first reading speaks of the confrontation between Job and God. Before this in the book of Job (chapters 29-31), Job had confronted God about the extent of his suffering and the afflictions that God appeared to send to him even though Job had lived a righteous life. In responding to Job’s accusations, God points out the great difference between God and human beings. Job is really very small in comparison to God’s greatness. At the same time, we also may be surprised at the anger that God shows towards Job. The point of this exchange between God and Job shows the problem that pride often tells us that we do not need God in our lives, when that is so very far from being the truth.
The gospel reading is an account of what happens after Jesus has sent out the seventy-two apostles to spread the gospel throughout the earth (Luke 10: 1-12). Jesus tells the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida that they have not repented, and he warns of impending judgment as a result of their lack of repentance. A little earlier (vv. 10-12) Jesus had spoken of other towns where the apostles may not be very well received. The people living in those towns do not realize that the kingdom of god is near, nor do they understand the value of the message the apostles are preaching. The greatest barrier to repentance is not being willing to acknowledge that you are going in the wrong direction, which is a kind of pride. We all need to take pride in what we do, but too much or misplaced pride can be a basis for doing the wrong thing.
On Fridays the Church commemorates the death of Jesus. Reflecting on the readings for today can help each of us to see ways that we can focus on Jesus. Am I unwilling to repent because I feel proud? Do I want to focus on what I do well, but ignore what I do badly? In what ways am I not being open with God about my life? In what ways could I allow myself to open up to God more completely and more sincerely? Are there things that God may be asking me to do but which I do not want to do because I am too proud?
-Joel Schickel