Reflection for Thursday, June 19, 2003: 11th week in Ordinary Time.

Abstract

2 Corinthians 11:1-11 "...But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts may be corrupted from a sincere and pure commitment to Christ...."|| Psalm 111:1b-4 and 7&8"...Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth..."|| Matthew 6:7-15 "...Our Father who art in heaven..."|| Feast of St. Romuald (950/1027) For 30 years after he became a monk, he went around Italy founding monasteries, the most famous of which is the Carmaldoli Monastery in Tuscany, where an order of Benedictines was established. He entered the monastery having fled his home life after he witnessed his father kill a relative over land. His father later became a monk too, even though he struggled with that vocation; he persevered with his son, Romuald's help and encouragement.|| In Paul's second letter to the Corinthians, we find him speaking in a very frank way to the people you can tell he loves, but for whom he is afraid that they may be following false apostles who claim to preach Christ crucified, but in fact are mixing the message. He refers to them as preaching "another Jesus" than the one the apostles preached. His language is very direct, as he tells them he is jealous of them with the jealousy of God, since he betrothed the Corinthians to Christ, as a virgin bride to her groom. He tells them that he is worried that they might follow the false apostles out of their love of Christ, and he says these others who are preaching "another Jesus" are like the "serpent who deceived Eve by his cunning." Can you think of a time when someone, who said they were preaching Christ's message; or maybe someone who claimed to be Christian spoke earnestly but falsely and fooled you? How did you find out that you had been deceived?|| One subject that comes to my mind is the topic of abortion. For many years, I avoided the topic, because it brought to mind the messages of violence. The media always spoke of the conflict outside of abortion mills, never of the many who stood in silence praying for open-mindedness. When I heard about those present who were praying to end abortion, I began to listen differently. My heart had been changed and I felt a peace about the subject, like I had finally heard the truth. I think that is what Paul is asking of the Corinthians today, to not be led astray, but rather to always seek that peace that is to accompany hearing the Truth.|| In our Gospel reading from Matthew, Jesus tells how to pray, Our Father who art in heaven...I invite you to click on the readings above and read each line of this prayer deliberately and slowly. This is the way the person who ends our prayer in silence prays the Our Father, almost as if each word is a sentence. It is a powerful experience and it helps you focus on each word.