St. Paul reminds us that we need to place our hope in God, not in our own direct influence
Although most Sunday homilies focus on the first and third Scripture readings, I would like to focus on the reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 8. This reading seems to pinpoint an experience that many of us have. Much of the exterior structure of life seems futile. Structures and institutions we used to trust seem less trustworthy. People make decisions they say are for our sake, but they seem to have detrimental effects on us. And so we focus on St. Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Much of the hope and promise that St. Paul offers us has to do with God’s promise rather than our own direct influence. St. Paul talks about our temptation to trust in corrupt, limited things. God’s promises are based on eternal values and unconditional love. When we look at that choice from a logical, sensible perspective, we know what we ought to be doing. Living in the moment seems less secure, and we are more susceptible to the temptation of trusting things and people that don’t last. We are even tempted to believe that we are in control, that life should go the way we want it to. It is amazing the number of fantasies we are raised on, almost from our birth.
Although much is out of our control, there is a great deal we can do to become more receptive to the promise of God and to trust in eternal things. Using images from the Scriptures, we can prepare good soil to receive the seed of God’s promise. But how can we do that?
Even though the reality is that we are eternally connected to God, we often neglect to recognize that this is true. Many of us would call that the practice of prayer. Acknowledging that we are in relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ and adding the gift of the Holy Spirit activates within us the belonging and security that we seek. It’s not that we have chosen God, but that God has chosen us.
Take a moment today to quiet your mind and heart in the midst of all your fears and anxieties, and acknowledge that God has chosen you. Listen to but fight the arguments that say you don’t deserve it. Even when you do not see the fruits of that belief, till the soil of your mind, heart and body to receive the seed of God’s love that is already within you.
If you would like to practice acknowledging being out of control, choose to fast in some way. Choose some act of voluntary self-emptying. Make yourself experience the hunger and thirst of not living a convenient and luxurious life. Choose to be around those who live this way all the time and let them teach you their wisdom.
Most of us have a lot of stuff. Ask yourself how you have been generous with your stuff toward others. It might be money, possessions, time or sharing yourself with others. Living in a land of abundance, we think in terms of scarcity. That lack of living in reality causes insecurity and anxiety and creates unnecessary divisions and enemies. We see and hear threats where they really don’t exist. Amazing as it may seem, greater generosity creates deeper security and trust in us and in others.
The gift of freedom is already within us. Creating the good soil to receive it is our daily job.
