DAILY GRACE

September 16, 2020, Wednesday of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time

Scripture: Luke 7:31-35

‘To what then will I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market-place and calling to one another,
“We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we wailed, and you did not weep.”
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, “He has a demon”; the Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, “Look, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners!” Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.’

Meditation:

       ‘. . . wisdom is vindicated . . . “

Like bookends, the Gospel texts this week surround the cynicism of Jesus’ opponents in today’s reading with the openness of the centurion and the mourners of Nain, along with that of tomorrow’s penitent woman. Jesus is challenged to validate himself and his mission on his detractors’ terms. He refuses. Their ambivalence is nothing more than a smokescreen for their fear of commitment and unwillingness to change. They’ll straddle the fence indefinitely rather than risk being proved wrong about Jesus.

 During the Civil War, Confederate Joseph Johnston was an eminent strategist and a courageous soldier. But he was also stymied by his demand for perfection. In critical moments, his fear of failure paralyzed him from attacking. By singling out one consideration after another as sufficient reason for not moving, he avoided defeat . . . and blame. Actually, his dallying resulted in a string of missed opportunities, which ultimately contributed to the fall of the Confederacy.

Artful dodgers that they are, Christ’s critics adopt a similar strategy. Demand perfection and you can sidestep a commitment to discipleship. Fix the imperative to change on someone or something else, and presto! —- personal responsibility vanishes. But whose standards determine what is “perfect”? When people refuse to acknowledge the “righteousness of God,” Luke says, they reject “the plan of God for themselves.” (7:30). They don’t believe in the simple path: grace plus the decision to change (made over and over). They will not be led, then laughed at when they “fail.” Jesus says, “Nevertheless, wisdom is vindicated by all her children.” Those who do something with the lives do make mistakes, but those who do nothing make the greatest mistake of all. Nothing, not even death on a cross, is beyond the pale of redemption.

Prayer

    O Lord, you understand how afraid we are to change, and to be vulnerable. We would rather justify our attitudes and actions than lose our certitude. It’s our rudder, our north star. But take us, fear ad all. Once more, we resolve to tell ourselves each day that we can change, whether we believe it at first or not. You know it, and that’s enough for us.

Contemplation

Faltering resolve. . . .  Unfailing grace.

Share This