Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
What constitutes the authentic practice of religion? What is it that we do in our everyday lives that establishes who we are as Christians? What 'voices' command our attention?
The passage from Matthew's Gospel is the beginning of the 'seven woes'. Jesus condemns the behavior of the Scribes and Pharisees accusing them of keeping a stranglehold on the people they are meant to care for and serve. What they say and what they do are completely different and their rules impose an impossible burden on the people. Worst of all, Jesus accuses them of denying those in their care of eternal life with God. In 1 Thessalonians, St Paul prays for the community 'unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of love and endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ' and ...'for our Gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction'. St. Paul's reference to the unceasing 'work of faith', 'labor of love', and 'endurance of hope' is the foundation of Christian life…how we live our lives. Faith, hope, and love. We can rarely say we've done this for even one entire day…but, by the grace of God, we continue to try. We struggle to do what we know we should, but often find one of the biggest challenges is not allowing voices—interior and exterior—to discourage and condemn us when we fall short. But think about this. Would the Jesus we know offer discouragement to us or hold us in disdain? Let us stop! Let us truly identify the voices we are paying attention to. Do these voices accept us and encourage us to carry on? Do these voices come to us in love? Does this voice leave us feeling we are personally loved despite anything we can ever 'do' or 'say'?
Mature Christians question these 'voices'. Mature Christians realize the need to be deeply connected to other Christians to help them sort out these voices—internal as well as external. Jesus held in great disdain the religious authorities who insisted on being the only voice their communities followed…at the peril of God's people. We claim we are Christians and struggle every day. But that is not the point. The real test of a Christian is about trying yet again…getting up and moving on with the task of 'getting on'. Much of what we see and hear every single day in our culture/society delights in the disdain of human failing…human flaw…human weakness. We need not participate in this discouraging view of humanity. We can choose instead to look at Jesus and the Truth of what Jesus lived and promised for us. Jesus, although murdered, lives among us at this moment. The Spirit of God is alive and well and working at each moment. And we always have a choice. We can choose to bow to evil or stand up. Stand up.
What shall I do this day? I will choose to listen only to voices of encouragement. I will choose to listen only to voices that encourage me to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I will choose to depend upon Jesus, the Living Christ, who lives and breathes within me. The Gospel is the FIRST WORD and the LAST WORD. Jesus is the ONLY WORD. Despite differences and squabbles within the Church, the person of Jesus Christ is what discipleship is founded upon. May we, by God's grace always remember this.
God, the origin of wisdom, has revealed in countless ways that community is the 'way' of living as a Christian. When confused or questioning we are must to turn to fellow Christians; we must sort the 'voice' out together. When in doubt or disagreement, we must express this in our community. Our personal friendship with Jesus must develop deep enough to question and stand firm enough to resist! What is in your heart? What is in your soul? What is Jesus saying to you this day?
Gail Lyman