Reflection - Obedience

http://usccb.org/bible/readings/101419.cfm
Romans 1:1-7
Luke 11:29-32

A substantial portion of the Old Testament is comprised of stories. Most of the older ones were handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth long before they were captured in written form. For the purpose of this reflection I need to mention a few.

Early on in Scripture we find Abraham in conversations with God. Things are going well for him with promises of posterity and prosperity, a homeland and universal blessings. Going well, that is, up to the point where Abraham is directed to sacrifice his only son. Hey! That sounds like a great idea! Then he will have no posterity, and no use for prosperity, homeland or blessings.

Then there was Moses. Having been given the impossible task of persuading Pharaoh — with a little help on the side — to let the Hebrew people leave Egypt, he then is directed to lead them to some distant land of milk and honey. Along the way Moses finds them stubborn, ungrateful, willful, and rebellious. They were the kind of people who probably would have responded better to a land of beer and pretzels. But what do you expect when wandering around a desert? Then, of course, there was the problem of water. Desert = minimal sources of water! Right! So what is Moses supposed to do about it? Well, says God . . . How about if you, Moses, strike that rock. Yes, the one over there. Strike it with your rod. That should be a good source for water.

Joshua’s story follows after Moses dies. The first part of his story is a simple one: There’s that city over there. That’s the one. Just on the other side of the Jordan River. See it now? Well, get your people across the River and then have the men march once around the city silently each day for six days. Do the same on the seventh day but listen for my command. Then, on the command, the trumpets shall blast, the people shall shout, the city walls will fall down and the city will be yours. What a great battle plan!?

So, how about Gideon. Everybody knows of Gideon — right!? Well, Gideon was a farmer whom the Lord appointed to be a general. It seems that the neighboring Midianites we’re being a PITA, or as some might say, a pain in the . . . .  So — get this — these were Gideon’s instructions in four simple steps: 

1. Gather an army.
2. Send half your army home.
3. Now, of those remaining, send another ninety-five percent home.
4. With what’s left, go and defeat the Midianites. Success guaranteed.

These are just a few of the Old Testament stories. A lot more like them are available for your consideration. And, in each one, God’s directives are — how shall I say it without being struck be lightening — in each one, God’s directives are suspicious, hinky, eye-rolling. Oh! Yeah!

The underlying principle in each of these and many other Scripture stories is the same. Paul mentions that principle when he writes his letter to the Romans. His own life experience is the occasion for this teaching; but the rest of his letter to the Romans will indicate just how universal the principle is. It’s contained in a simple phrase: “The obedience of faith”. Obedience in gathering the necessities for the sacrifice of a son. Obedience in striking a rock to start the flow of water. Obedience in looking like a foolish child marching round and round engaged in foolish behavior. Obedience in taking a few hundred warriors to confront an army of several thousand.

Aren’t you glad that you were never called upon to such ‘obedience of faith’ as those Old Testament figures. No! Your personal list is a bit different, as is the list for all those who have lived in the aftermath of the divine tsunami.

• Do not swear oaths. Rather let your ‘yes’ be an honest ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ a straightforward ‘no.’
  
• Love your enemies.
  
• Pray for those who persecute you.
  
• Forgive those who trespass against you.
  
• Be merciful as your Heavenly Father is merciful.
  
• Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
  
• See! Our directions are not nearly as eye-rolling as those of our Old Testament ancestors.

Alright. Yes! I have heard your objections before.

This list must have come from a crazy man.

These things are impossible.

How can you ever expect we can even begin to accomplish these things.

We might just as well have been ordered to march against an army of thousands with just a couple hundred amateur soldiers by our side.

How about the suggestion of a few simple things to practice that will clear the way for some of those more challenging opportunities for living in the obedience of faith.

• Pray when prayer seems senseless.
  
• Pray daily even if the words are like cardboard in your mouth.
  
• Quit focusing on what you don’t get out of Mass, or adoration or the rosary and focus on praising God.
  
• Read the Scriptures often; and always with the question: what does this mean for me?
  
• Give thanks when you don’t feel thankful.
  
• Give praise when you are self-satisfied and self-content.
  

In other words: give simple obedience to what you say you believe.

Oh! And by the way. The day is coming when you will be ordered to march against an army of thousands infested with evil with just a few amateur soldiers by your side and several legions of angels leading the way.