Reflection - Teaching

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/060216.cfm

2 Timothy 2:8-15
Mark 12:28-34

     Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths,

     Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

These are the words of the psalmist. They are essential words for every person who seeks to be united with God. They are the words we hear today sandwiched between two readings from Scripture which endeavor to do precisely what is requested: teach the ways of the Lord.

Humanity has a strong affinity for complicating the simple and analyzing the impenetrable. And, while neither of these inclinations is inherently objectionable, either can obscure the intrinsic pre-eminence of the simple and the mysterious which we so intently pursue. When we ask the Lord to "teach me your paths" we're not asking for instruction in the Baltimore Catechism or the more modern Catechism of the Catholic Church. The ways of the Lord are surprisingly simple; his paths remarkably straight; his truth ultimately unambiguous.

The question which is posed by the Scribe -- “Which is the first of all the commandments?” -- is a variant on the request of the psalmist, the request with which we began. Jesus responds with fundamental Old Testament teaching.

      Hear, O Israel! 

     The Lord our God is Lord alone!

     You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,

     with all your soul, with all your mind, 

     and with all your strength.

The second is this:

     You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 

     There is no other commandment greater than these.

The recognition by Jesus that the Scribe responded with understanding affirms that ancient Old Testament teaching as the fountainhead from which all the ways, paths and truths of the Lord are made known. The Ten Commandments themselves are but a ten point elaboration on what these two instructions contain.

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

The extent to which religion can bring disorder into the world is almost beyond belief. None of that disorder is of God. None of that disorder is from his word. Chaos is a tool of evil. Disorder, disruption, disagreement -- scrambled, muddled, messed up, deranged and every other category that reflect one or more aspects of chaos is the work of Satan. That's not to say that religion itself is the work of evil; but rather that even the work of praising God can quickly end up wallowing in the chaos created by the mischief of the evil one when religion or some aspect of religion is overwhelmed by human vices. Pride, especially pride, will always seek evil's way. 

When Paul writes to Timothy in the letter we heard today, he is mindful of our human weakness in this regard and the temptation to let pride and self-will guide our response to the Lord. He is also aware of the dangers of personality Infused positions, having himself been one who persecuted the followers of Jesus. It is this sensitivity which prompts his admonition: 

     Charge them [those in your flock] before God to stop disputing about words.

     This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.

Teach me YOUR ways, O Lord.

But Paul's message contains far more than caution. Time and again Paul will return to the simplicity of the Lord's ways, his path, his truth. Here, his teaching is housed in the opening statement: "Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David: such is my Gospel." The words may not seem like much. You might think he's just saying: "Don't forget about Jesus." But much more is contained; for the fullness of his message is only perceived through the entirety of his letters.

When Paul here calls Jesus to mind, his intent is to evoke more than the recollection of an historical person. This is the disciple who declares "we preach Christ crucified." His intent is to enliven a memory: "God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) He inherently suggests the same prayer we heard from the psalmist: 

     Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths,

     Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Simultaneously, Paul intimates God's response to our prayer, a response which he states most clearly in the letter to the Hebrews. Teach me your ways, we pray. And Paul responds:

     In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets;

Teach me your ways, we pray. And Paul continues:

     In these last days he has spoken to us by a Son.  (Hebrews 1:1-2)

How much more instruction do I need?

In the course of the Last Supper Thomas, too, will join in the prayer of the psalmist: Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?"  (John 14:5)

To which Jesus replies:  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life"

But Philip continues: "Lord, show us the Father, and we shall be satisfied."

And Jesus laments: "Have I been with you so long, and yet you do not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father"

And I have to ask myself if I'm as slow as Phillip? With the Psalmist and with Phillip I regularly pray:

     Your ways, O LORD, make known to me; teach me your paths,

     Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my savior.

Why do I even utter such a prayer when he has answered me through the very person of his Son?