In the Gospel it could appear that Jesus believes you are only blessed if you are suffering in one way or another. Joy does not seem to fit. Yet the Responsorial Psalm states, “Blessed is the one who does not take the wicked for his guide, nor walks the road that sinners tread.” While psalm 41 adds, “Blessed are those who consider the poor. The Lord will deliver them in time of trouble.” The prophet Jeremiah says “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord... He is like a tree planted [next to] water that sends out its roots to the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green.” These are what we would call beatitudes.
The Hebrew scriptures are filled with beautiful and numerous beatitudes. They are loud in proclaiming that if you do this or that good thing, you will be blessed. Therefore, people were not surprised that Jesus used them in his teaching. Yet, as they are presented, Jesus seems to have reversed them!
Life on the other hand would agree with Jesus. Most of us have to work hard, make sacrifices. go without, to achieve anything. Just think of people in sport. They spend hours and hours in training, not only to give of their best but to be better than others, to be the best. Businesses only succeeds after a long period of hard work, commitment and dedication and a great deal of self-sacrifice. Many of these actions are made for material gain. However, Jesus says that we should make even greater sacrifices for spiritual gain not just for ourselves but for all those among whom we live. We are invited to do this for the greater glory of God not for ourselves. This kind of sacrifice, goodness and compassion is often found in the caring and service industries.
There is another reason for accepting suffering because it purifies and helps empty oneself of selfishness, of one’s ego and helps place one’s life totally into God’s hands and with complete trust.
Macrina Wiederkehr invites us to take off our shoes for we stand on holy ground:
Your bare feet walk the earth reverently for everything keeps crying, take off your shoes the ground you stand on is holy, the ground of your being is holy.”
We may not be able to stop the suffering unfolding in our world, but we can expand our ability to offer compassion, kindness, and support by strengthening our sense of reverence.
As we bow often in honour of the divine blessings all around us, we refill our body, mind, and spirit with soul food found in the Gospel. If we could only see that the ground on which we stand as Holy Ground, everything around us will speak of the holiness and presence of God. Even suffering is transformed into a time of blessing.
Let this call to “take off your shoes” speak to you of your need to rest and serve and as an invitation to be present to the healing energy of the ground beneath your feet, the people around you and remind you of the gifts the Holy One has given you. There is much to be found in the simple act of taking off your shoes with awareness and humility.
May you heed the call to take off your shoes in whatever way is right for you. And may you receive the blessing of wonder at all that the Holy One has to offer you this day and every day!!
by Fr Thomas O'BRIEN a.a
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