"JESUS FOREVER PURSUES US, EVEN WHEN WE RESIST HIM"
I'm away October 12 & 13, outside of Chicago at Mundelein Seminary with the Institute for Priestly Formation. Holding y'all close to my heart. Back in Thibodaux at all the Masses October 19 & 20. Praying for ya'll with a father's heart.
INTRODUCTION
I think one of the most destructive modern day heresies is "WWJD."
"A particularly dangerous phenomenon for faith has arisen in our times: indeed a form of atheism exists which we define, precisely, as 'practical', in which the truths of faith or religious rites are not denied but are merely deemed irrelevant to daily life, detached from life, pointless. So it is that people often believe in God in a superficial manner, and live ‘as though God did not exist’ (etsi Deus non daretur). In the end, however, this way of life proves even more destructive because it leads to indifference to faith and to the question of God."
— Pope Benedict XVI, General Audience, November 14, 2012
God is alive, He is not "dead" ... nor is He irrelevant to our lives.
Because WWJD is so seductive, we've spent the past 4 weeks looking at important aspects of our relationship with Jesus.
CONNECT INTRODUCTION TO SERIES
Today is part five of the "Who is Jesus?" homily series. Let's review where we've been.
REVIEW OF THE SERIES
We've been in control of our life for such a long time. The thought of letting go of control can be frightening.
- On Sunday, September 8th: "Jesus is always taking the initiative. He is always pursuing us."
- On Sunday, September 15th: "Jesus looks at you through the eyes of mercy."
- On Sunday, September 22nd: "Jesus wants to live life with you. He wants to do everything with you."
- On Sunday, October 6th: "There's a difference between waiting for Jesus to do something versus waiting with Jesus as he is doing something in your life."
REVIEW OF THE SERIES
What we've learned about Jesus throughout the series is this: Jesus is always reaching out to us — always.
Jesus always reaches out to us, takes the initiative, to pursue us, even when we resist Him.
WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THE CORE MESSAGE?
Fr. Robert Barron has a great commentary on today's Scriptures. (Click here to listen to Fr. Barron's commentary)
There are three principle characters in 2nd Kings, chapter 5: Naaman, the King Joram of Israel, and Elisha. Who are they?
UNPACKING THE CORE MESSAGE IN OUR DAILY LIVES
We're afraid of us
We're afraid of our darkness, our own woundedness, our own history.
Because we aren't utterly convinced that He is who He says He is we may not want Him that close to us.
We want to be in control- He's always reaching out to us — he's forever pursuing us, taking the initiative.
- He's always reaching out to us — he's longing for us to see ourselves as he sees us.
- He's always reaching out to us — he wants to live life with us.
- He's always reaching out to us — he wants to wait with us instead of us waiting for Him.
Jesus always reaches out to us, takes the initiative, to pursue us, even when we resist Him.
WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY ABOUT THE CORE MESSAGE?
Fr. Robert Barron has a great commentary on today's Scriptures. (Click here to listen to Fr. Barron's commentary)
There are three principle characters in 2nd Kings, chapter 5: Naaman, the King Joram of Israel, and Elisha. Who are they?
- Naaman was the chief general of the Arameans (modern day Syria). He is mentioned to have leprosy: "But valiant as he was, the man was a leper." (2nd Kings 5:1)
- King Joram was the King of Israel.
- Elisha was a prophet, the successor of Elijah.
- God calls Naaman to go Israel to find Elisha the prophet so that he might be cured. He assents and leaves Syria to go to Israel. The Aramean king gives him permission to go and gives him letter and a small military retinue.
- King Joram freaks out when he sees his biggest rival, with a small retinue with him, walking into his palace. The "king of Israel tore his garments" in panic that Naaman might be there to spy on Israel. (2nd Kings 5:7) He resists what God asks of him.
- After eventually gaining access to continue, Naaman meets Elisha the Prophet. Elisha tells him: "Go and wash seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will heal, and you will be clean." (2nd Kings 5:10)
- Naaman scoffs at the idea deeming it ridiculous. Naaman resists what Elisha says. Naaman resists what God asks of him.
UNPACKING THE CORE MESSAGE IN OUR DAILY LIVES
The dynamic of resistance that we see in the Old Testament is often like the dynamics of resistance we see within ourselves. Yes, Jesus is always reaching out to us. Jesus is always taking the initiative. Jesus is always pursuing us. But, we often resist.
Why?
"With ever more accurate darts of love the Holy Spirit opens our consciences before God so that deeper and more effective healing can occur; at times his coming is so pure that it causes us to have pain and recoil at the level of intimacy God wishes his Son to achieve in our being."
Why?
"With ever more accurate darts of love the Holy Spirit opens our consciences before God so that deeper and more effective healing can occur; at times his coming is so pure that it causes us to have pain and recoil at the level of intimacy God wishes his Son to achieve in our being."
— Deacon James Keating, Ph.D., The Eucharist and the Healing of our Affection of Sin
We're afraid of us
We're afraid of our darkness, our own woundedness, our own history.
We're afraid of Jesus
We've been in control of our life for such a long time. The thought of letting go of control can be frightening.
THE GOOD NEWS
Jesus knows we will resist ... and He still pursues us
Here's the good news: WWJD is a heresy, Jesus is alive.
Jesus knows we will resist ... and He still pursues us
CONCLUSION
© Fr. Mark Toups, 2013
