|
|
|
In today’s first reading, Job is doing what television commercials have been making me think a lot of people are doing these days. What’s that? They are waking up in the middle of the night and can’t seem to go back to sleep. They are tossing and turning and, as they do, they are finding themselves worrying and fretting about all so many things. As Job described this problem:
So I
have been assigned months of misery, and troubled nights have been
allotted to me. If in bed I say, “When shall I arise?”, then the
night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until the dawn. Let me be clear: There’s nothing fun at all about not being able to have a good night’s sleep, if only for the entirely selfish reason that it makes for a longer, more tiresome tomorrow. For most of us who on occasion have or even repeatedly awaken in the middle of the night and not been able to fall back asleep, rather than tossing and turning in the vain hope of falling asleep again, one solution is to turn on the television. As you surf the cable channels, have you ever noticed what commercial after commercial suggests is the best way to solve the problem of having to endure sleepless nights? “Pop a pill and everything will be okay.” Think about all of the products those commercials are peddling. Natural supplements include: melatonin, L-Tryptophan, Valerian root extract, magnesium, and inositol. Over the counter remedies include: NoDoz, Nytol, Sominex, Sleepinal, Compoz, Unisom, Nighttime Sleep Aid, Tylenol PM, Aspirin-Free Anacin PM, and even NyQuil, loaded as it is with alcohol. Then, if those natural supplements and over the counter remedies don’t work, there’s always that bevy of prescription sleeping pills or sleep medications that are guaranteed to work, even if the side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth and swelling of the tongue, liver failure, and stroke, to name but a few. Yet, note carefully what those commercials are recommending. They are offering sedatives that, yes, have been designed to promote sleep. But, not one of them offers anything in terms of dealing with what is causing the lack of sleep that is evidencing itself in all of that fretting and worrying that comes to mind when people awaken in the middle of the night. Isn’t that much of the reason why they turn on the television? Perhaps it’s the tiresome day—filled as it is with its many fears, worries, doubts, and anxieties—that contributes in part to those sleepless nights. Think about it: Most of those thoughts that crisscross our minds while we lie awake at night call to mind how, as Job asked, “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery?”, and then, too, as Job fretted: “…I shall not see happiness again.” I want to venture to suggest that today’s gospel offers a spiritual antidote to those sleepless nights: Like Jesus, we could care about the health and well being of others to the point that we actually do something to improve their health and well being. As we heard in the gospel, after Jesus left the synagogue, he was told about Simon’s mother-in-law who was sick with a fever. Jesus immediately went to her, grasped her hand, and helped her up. “Then the fever left her,” we were told, “and she waited on them.” Later in the day, “when it was evening, after sunset,” the disciples brought to Jesus “all who were ill or possessed by demons.” In fact, we were told, “The whole town was gathered at the door.” What did Jesus do? He cured many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons.” Jesus models for us what it means to be a disciple. It’s not a matter of worrying and fretting about what’s going on in our lives to the point that we wake up in the middle of the night because we are upset and troubled by so many things and, like Job, “lie restless until the dawn.” No, it’s a matter of reaching out during the day to those all of those people who are upset and troubled by so many things that they aren’t living the one and only life that God has breathed into them. And, then, as we reach out to them, to offer the healing remedy of our personal interest, concern, and care. In short, “to wait on them,” as Peter’s mother-in-law did immediately following her miraculous healing. Quite likely, most of us have heard the aphorism: “Human suffering is a great way to meet Jesus.” But, today’s scripture causes me to think we need to rewrite that aphorism: “Human suffering is a great way to be a disciple.” All too often, I think, we spend all too much time focusing upon ourselves and all of those things that cause us to awaken in the middle of the night, to toss and turn, to fulminate in our minds about what has happened, what may happen, or what will happen as well as everything we should have done, may have done, or will need to do. Think about it: That’s the sign of a spiritual disease. And what disease is that? “It’s all about us!” And, we are then tempted, like Job, to wonder why God allows all of this and doesn’t liberate us from life’s vicissitudes. We think of ourselves as if we are Peter’s mother-in-law rather than Jesus and we want Jesus to do something for us right now rather than to do something, as Jesus did, for others. “If only Jesus would make everything okay by lifting this burden from my shoulders,” we think, “then everything would be fine and I could be a disciple. But, me first.” I’m sorry, but that particular narrative doesn’t appear anywhere in the gospels. Instead, the narrative that continuously re-appears is the one where Jesus proclaims God’s love to those who are suffering in some way, touches them, and this action, in turn, releases what is binding them. We live out this narrative when we make ourselves available to others so that they can unburden themselves of the suffering that is weighing them down. Like Jesus, all we have to do is to proclaim God’s love for them, touch them, and allow the power of God’s love flowing through us to release what is binding them: · Spouses “do this in memory of me” when they express their care for each other rather than caring only for themselves. · Parents “do this in memory of me” when they express their care for their children more rather than caring only for themselves. · Siblings and friends “do this in memory of me” when they express their care for one another rather than caring only about themselves.
·
Perhaps toughest of all, Jesus’ disciples “do this in memory of me”
when they care for strangers, sinners, outcasts, and yes, in-laws,
rather than caring only about themselves. When we care only about ourselves, we tend to focus only upon all of those factors that cause us to be unsatisfied, frustrated, and unhappy. In turn, these feelings cause us mental anguish and suffering. Then, guess what? We find that we can’t sleep and end up lying awake in the middle of the night focusing only upon ourselves, thus adding to our wealth of mental anguish and suffering. We wonder if life is some cruel joke that God has played on us. The remedy for this spiritual disease is not, as our culture suggests, to “pop a bill” but, as we awaken in the middle of the night, to do as Jesus did. “Rising very early before dawn,” we were told, “Jesus left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.” How about trying that? Rather than worrying and fretting and lying awake at night, why not take advantage of that quiet time to present ourselves to God? Try using the time to read and ponder scripture, to pray the Rosary, or to jot down a list of people who are suffering in some way and are in need of God’s love. Then, resting peacefully in God’s love rather than in the comfort of our bed, perhaps we will find ourselves being told during the day “Everyone is looking for you,” and we will be ready to preach God’s unconditional love to those who are suffering, to touch them, and to allow the power of God’s love flowing through us bring healing to them. When we “do this in memory of me,” I’m willing to bet we’d sleep much better at night and I absolutely can guarantee that we’ll enjoy eternal rest in peace.
A brief
commercial break... Lent is about seven weeks away, beginning this year on Wednesday, February 22nd. Each year, the people at Magnificat® produce a companion edition for the season of Lent. Similar to a what older Catholics may remember as a "prayer book," the companion edition contains all sorts of prayers, readings, reflections, art, and activities for every member of the family to prepare each day of the season of Lent for the resurrection of Christ on Easter morning. Grandparents might consider purchasing a copy for themselves and copies for each grandchild. Confirmation sponsors might consider purchasing a copy for themselves as well as the person they have sponsored or are sponsoring in the faith. Spouses might purchase a copy for themselves and use it for daily prayer during the season of Lent. Parents might purchase a copy for the family and use it to lead prayer before dinner each evening. At a price of $3.95 for 1-4 copies (plus $1 shipping/handling), $2.50 for 5-9 copies (plus $3 shipping/handling), and $1.50 for 10-49 copies (plus $5 shipping/handling), the companion edition makes a perfect and very affordable opportunity to prepare for the resurrection of Christ on Easter morning as well as an Lenten gift to spur family, friends, and colleagues toward greater spiritual growth during the holy season of Lent. The companion edition has a limited press run that sells out each year. Furthermore, orders are filled in the order received. So, place your order early. To place an order for the 2012 companion edition of Magnificat® for the season of Lent, call 1-970-416-6670, email specialissue@magnificat.com, or go to www.magnificat.com for ordering information.
|
|
|
HOMILY
