Re-orientation

This past week, I was on retreat along with the other English-speaking priests of our diocese.  In the light of the allegations that were leveled against so many priests in the United States in recent weeks, this time apart with the Lord and with our brothers was a welcome gift.

On the very first evening of our time together, our own Bishop encouraged us to give voice to the thoughts and emotions that were being raised within each one of us in the light of these most recent accusations, and for the remainder of the week, our retreat master, His Excellency, Christian Riesbeck, who is currently serving as the Auxiliary Bishop of Ottawa, helped us to focus once again on listening for the voice of Jesus who is the shepherd of our souls.

Each one of us whose souls have been disquieted by recent events needs to find some time to listen for the voice of Jesus.  In today’s gospel passage, he challenged the Pharisees and some of the scribes to recognize that while they were so fixed on following external laws, they had in fact abandoned the commandment of God and focused rather on human traditions (Mk 7:8).  If he were speaking in the language of our times, Jesus would have urged even the Pharisees to confess their sins and to change their ways.

This is exactly what Jesus encourages all of us to do.  We must constantly listen for his voice, calling his disciples and urging us to return to Him.  The Lord has already given us all that we need; all he asks in return is that we heed the statutes and ordinances that he has taught us ... so that we may enter and the land that the Lord, our God, has given us (Deut 4:1-2).

It seems that time and time again, the frailty and the humanity of Jesus’ disciples come to light, and when they do, they cause us all to stop.  These are the times when some difficult questions have to be asked, and some may even be tempted to turn away - that was the subject of last weekend’s gospel – but such moments can also be occasions of grace.

Saint James reminds us today that every generous act of giving ... is from above, from the Father.  Therefore, we should welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save our souls, and we should be doers of the word (Jas 1:17, 21-22).

And how do we continue to put the word of God into action?  Saint James says that we should care for orphans and widows in their time of distress, and that we should keep ourselves unstained by the world (Jas 1:27).  These words apply to all of us.  We must all strive to keep our eyes focused on Jesus.  He is the one who will point out to us the situations where our efforts are needed in order for is word to be proclaimed.  He is the one who will bring to our minds and hearts all those who are in need: widows, orphans, the sick and the suffering.  If we strive every day to listen for his word and to do whatever he tells us, we will also be able to resist the constant temptation to give in to the lure of earthly enticements.