Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Jeremiah 20:10-13) “Lead or Accompany?”

Twelfth Sunday of Ordinary Time (Jeremiah 20:10-13) “Lead or Accompany?”

        “You Duped me O Lord and I let myself be duped.  You were too strong for me, and you triumphed.  All the day I am an object of laughter; everyone mocks me.”

        We have a set of prophesies called the confessions of Jeremiah.  The lines I just read are from his confessions.  These sections of Jeremiah are very personal.  We could say that they reveal his innermost thoughts.  Jeremiah speaks from his heart. He shares his feelings.  The feelings might be despair.  He also expressed doubt.  He even questions his vocation.  Some of these sentiments are at the beginning of his confession.  We read from the middle of his confession today.

        The section we read from Jeremiah doesn’t reflect these feelings.  Perhaps the people who put the readings in the lectionary felt that we shouldn’t dwell on the vulnerability of a religious leader.  What we read makes it sound like Jeremiah is confident in the Lord.  He says:

“The Lord is with me, like a mighty champion: my persecutors will stumble, they will not triumph.  In their failure they will be put to utter shame.”

        If we were to read on to the end of this confession of Jeremiah, we would hear him say,

        “Cursed be the day on which I was born!.........

        Why did I come forth from the womb, to see sorrow and pain,

        To end my day in pain.”

        What is more helpful to us, to have leaders who express no self-doubt?  Or is it better to have prophets who share their struggles.

        Recently, Archbishop John Dolan began a new ministry in the Arch Diocese of Phoenix.  He began a mental health office in his Diocese to help coordinate church ministries that would work in conjunction with metal health professionals.  Why did Archbishop Dolan feel compelled to do that?  His reasons were based on his personal pain.  He explained that he was a survivor of suicide loss.  He lost a brother to suicide, he has lost two sisters to suicide, he also lost a brother-in-law to suicide.  His personal anguish has led him to act.  He feels the church has much comfort to offer those who are struggling with mental health issues.  He believes that most people don’t understand those who struggle with psychological sickness.  He felt the church should be a resource for all those who suffer.

        He shared how he was inspired by Pope Francis.  In an audience on January 4, 2023, Pope Francis spoke to one of his favorite themes, “spiritual accompaniment.”  The Pope deliberately uses this term rather than speak of spiritual directors.  Francis encouraged those who seek to minister to others to embrace their own human frailties.  He said, “Woe to those who don’t feel fragile.  They can be harsh and dictatorial.”

        Archbishop Dolan told a story of going to a funeral of someone who committed suicide.  The priest who presided at the funeral shared his theory as to why a suicide had happened.  He said, “The problem in your family is that you never came to Mass together.  If you had, this never would have happened.”  The words didn’t bring comfort, but they only brought feelings of shame.  Archbishop Dolan knew how devout his own family was, but their religious activities weren’t a bulwark against mental health struggles.  We can only surmise that the priest who presided at the funeral was afraid to admit that he didn’t have easy answers. 

        Jesus tells his apostles in the Gospel today not to be afraid.  Was he telling not to be afraid of persecution.  Perhaps he was.  But it could be just as likely that he was telling them not to be fear being afraid at times, of being weak at times, of sharing personal wounds at times.  At those moments the Apostles wouldn’t stand above the human condition but would be one with the people that they were pastoring.

        Today might be a day for a personal examination of conscience.  Can we accompany people who struggle?  Can we refrain from judging others as weaker than ourselves?  Could we just listen to others’ pain rather than try to solve our loved one’s problems as quickly as possible?  To take such an approach takes deep trust.  A trust that we must desire with all our minds, hearts and souls.

Reflection Questions:

Do I listen to people first?  Do I try to offer answers to problems first?

Am I afraid to share myself?  Why might that be?

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Dear Parishioners,

        During the pandemic, we had many outdoor Masses.  In fact, for a whole summer that was the only way we could gather.  The Masses were a sign that we still existed as a Eucharistic community.  When we gathered as a group outdoors it was safe for us to be together.  This was a very difficult time for our parish.  Fortunately, we can be back in church.

        Having Mass outdoors did offer a lot of inspiration.  It was good to gather and have God’s creation all around us.  What better cathedral ceiling than the blue sky above us.  How good it is to hear the birds singing and to feel the gentle breeze as we celebrate the liturgy. 

        Pope Francis has emphasized ecology from his first days as Pope.  With the recent wildfires in Canada that put people’s health in jeopardy we are reminded that the earth can take only so much abuse.  When we gather next Sunday (July 9th) at 9:15 a.m. outside Culemans Hall let us pray in a special way for the earth.  We need to heal our planet.  Human beings must show we have the will.

        We will also bury the time capsule for our parish after the outdoor Mass.  This will be followed by a reception.  Come and bring your family.

         May Our Lady pray for peace in our world.

        Fr. Mark

P.S. I will be on retreat from Monday June 25th to the following Saturday.  There will be no posts during that time.