Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Sometimes I am amazed at how God uses everyday life to speak to me. Today I woke up with a stiff neck. As I went to read the scripture for the reflection that I was about to write, I was struck by the passage that said “be no longer stiff-necked.” (Deut 10:16) It was almost as if God was tapping me on the shoulder and trying to get my attention. In a physical sense, my stiff neck was not only a painful situation, but it also limited my ability to see all of my surroundings because of the tightness of the neck muscles. Trying to turn around to back out of the driveway was nearly impossible. A “stiff necked” spiritual condition is similar in many ways. When I am “stiff necked” I am unable to see God and His work both within my heart and in the world around me. It is almost as if I have blinders on and can only see straight ahead, or the things that I choose to see. I think that both readings today remind me that I cannot live life fully as a disciple unless I allow God to cure my “stiff- necked” attitude.
In the first reading, Moses reminds the Israelites that God asks them to “follow his ways exactly, to love and serve the Lord, your God with all your heart and all your soul, to keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord. (Deut 10: 12-13) Moses tells the Israelites that because of God’s covenant with their forefathers, he will “choose you, their descendants in preference to all other peoples.” (Deut 10:15) Moses challenges the people to turn completely to the Lord and remember all that He has done for them. He tells them, “Circumcise your hearts, therefore and be no longer stiff-necked.” (Deut 10: 16) The Israelites had become hard of heart and were not remembering God’s presence and protection for them as He brought them from Egypt. Like blinders that prevented them from seeing God and His works among them, the people of Israel needed to renew their commitment to God. Not only were they called to worship God alone, but God demanded that the Israelites imitate Him in how He cares for the orphans, widows and aliens. “So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.” (Deut 10:19) I think having a stiff-necked attitude implies a refusal to look both within and outside of oneself. As I read and reflect on these verses, I consider the ways that I have failed to recognize God in my life and my need to worship Him alone. How often do I forget to recognize my need for God, His mercy and his forgiveness? I also notice ways were I have been “stiff necked” in following God and His ways. I reflect on the times when I did not help those in need that are in the community and world around me- the poor, the immigrants, and those cast out by our society. Like the Israelites, I need this reminder to again turn to the Lord, completely trust in Him, and follow His commands.
In the gospel reading, Jesus discusses with Peter the need to pay the “temple tax”. Jesus implies that it is foreigners, not subjects of the kingdom that pay the tax. He then suggests that they “should not offend” and therefore He instructs Peter to pay the tax for the both of them. Although in some ways this seems like an odd story, I wonder if Jesus is trying to remind Peter and those who follow Him that we are part of the world and we must live by the laws of the land. Maybe this is even Jesus’ way of calling us to be a part of the world in such a way that we live out our faith by the way we practice our civic duties in our cities and communities. Being educated about policies, voting, and using our faith to direct our decision making can be a powerful way to share the Good News with others. To see all the opportunities to serve the Lord and others in our society requires an attentive searching disposition. I cannot follow His will if my stiff-neck prevents me from seeing beyond my own wants and prejudices. .
So how do you cure a stiff neck? In the physical sense, a heating pad, a pain reliever and maybe a good massage will improve the pain. For a spiritual “stiff neck” I think this requires going to God and asking for healing. In order to be cured, I need to have my spiritual blinders removed so I can see God both within me and around me. I must be able to recognize Him and how He calls me to follow Him in caring for others. I must also have my heart “circumcised” so I can know God’s love for me, for it is only then I can share this love with others. Once I am able to see around me and know God’s love and presence, then I can come to know how God calls me to live as His disciple by listening to Him in prayer, reading scripture and learning His ways through church teachings. I think that God is using my physical stiff neck to remind me that every day I am in need of His grace and healing to help me stay focused on Him, so I will “ be no longer stiff-necked” with Him!
"Heavenly Father, You have created us and love us, and yet we remain a stiff-necked people. Send down your healing Spirit so we can be healed of our sinfulness and hardness of heart. May we be transformed, so we can follow Your Son, Jesus in bringing your love and compassion to the world. We pray this through Christ our Lord. AMEN"
- Marylynn Herchline