Third Sunday Reflection: The Gift Of Grief
Franciscan Reflections from the Hermitage – Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A 2023 – The Gift Of Grief – Matthew 4:12-23
If you wish to listen to this reflection, do so here: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/52450767
The gift of grief: Sunday, 15th January, the anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood… suddenly a moment of God’s grace to see how the move from armaments industrialist to anti-war and pro-life activism became a cleverly disguised trick of the ego to side-step responsibility and healing. Pointing away from the self towards those others, the ego found a new place to hide in plain sight… the religious activist.
Without illumination, this darkness is fed by the ego defending itself in a trance of denial… it is always the other group or person’s fault. Rationalising our motives and actions becomes the default setting.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus leaves Nazareth making his home in Capernaum, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. Sophistication, wealth and philosophy had come to this area of original blessing, yet they had moved into darkness and the shadow of death… becoming despised and ostracised by observant Orthodox Jews.
It is in this area that Jesus makes his headquarters and begins his ministry. It is here that Jesus calls his first disciples. It is here that the kingdom of God is first proclaimed. From here, Jesus reveals the Beatitudes, the blueprint for the way of life of those entering the Kingdom of God.
This is the way to freedom and salvation by taking responsibility for our actions, for all the hurt and pain we have caused… and then setting each other free… the mutual unbinding of fetters that trap us in the circle of blame and grievance. The forgiveness of sins… what a wonderful gift God shares with us in this Beloved Community of the Kingdom of God.
Jesus has no time for the blame game, and his strongest admonitions are against the leaders of those pious observant Orthodox Jews. Jesus truly does bring good news to those who are enslaved by past hurts and grievances, those who are despised and ostracised… those on the fringes of pious religious society.
Jesus teaches us the way that we are to follow. The call to repent is not made to shame or disgrace others, which is always counter-productive by strengthening the defence mechanism of the ego. Jesus’ call to repentance requires us to look from a new perspective, change our focus, move our attention outside of the self, understand our interdependence with others, acknowledge our common humanity, and increase empathy and compassion.
It is from this dynamic compassionate stance that we can engage our awareness of the present moment in a non-defensive way. Entering into a non-judgemental mode of objectivity, we encounter the truth that transforms our lives and allows us to grow in every dimension of our human journey. This was the great healing that Jesus brought into people’s lives.
Mindfulness and the detached awareness that comes with it, facilitate an inclusive identity, especially in moments of conflict when our identity or core values are challenged. If our identity is inclusive, we become cooperative and compassionate toward others rather than only working to help ourselves and our immediate circle.
This is the healing that Jesus brings into people’s lives. This is the healing that we also are called to proclaim and the ongoing journey we are to undertake together.
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