Meditation: Thursday 13th. Dec. 2007 - Being 'divinized, '(though 'worms' and 'maggots' ) '

[BarbaraTherese]

Thursday 13th. December 2007

I am the LORD, your God,
who grasp your right hand;

It is I who say to you, “Fear not,

I will help you.”
Fear not, O worm Jacob,
O maggot Israel;

Now I think I know why St. Teresa of Avila may have called herself a “worm” - perhaps she was familiar with the above passage from Isiah. I must admit I had a giggle when I read the opening words above, after all Jacob and Isreal were “The Lord’s possession” and His beloved. We too are “The Lord’s possession” and His beloved. This reading from Isiah is a particularly consoling type of reading as is the Psalm that follows.

There is a passage in the Gospel that has always mystified me:

the Kingdom of heaven suffers violence,[and the violent are taking it by force.

If anyone can shed light upon it I would be most grateful. I will have a try to research it. The Gospel too however is one that is a great consolation.

The referral to “being divinized” is in the meditation below.

Today’s Mass Readings

Reading 1
Responsorial Psalm
Gospel

Meditation
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=13&year=2007&x=6&y=7
Portion only of overall meditation text:
"The crowds that John drew as he preached repentance in the desert were remarkable, especially if you consider how eccentric he appeared. After all, he did wear camel skins and eat bugs. Forsaking family life, he lived in solitude and devoted himself to preaching a fiery message of God’s judgment. But because his heart burned with longing for the Messiah, and because his arguments and witness were so compelling, many were led to turn their lives around.

Jesus, though, wasn’t speaking here to honor a recently retired John the Baptist. It wasn’t sentimentality toward John but…as John would have wanted it, Jesus used this opportunity to invite his listeners into a relationship with his Father.
John has been called by many the greatest of all the Old Testament prophets. Even Jesus said, “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” Greater than Moses? Greater, even, than King Solomon? That must have caused more than a stir among the people. Maybe it even caused them to reconsider who John was and the message he had preached. Even more importantly, maybe it caused some to reconsider Jesus himself, the one John had come to announce.
But then came an even greater surprise: “Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11). That’s right. According to God’s plan, each of us is meant to outshine even the greatest of Old Testament prophets—simply because of the new creation that Jesus came to bring us.
Brothers and sisters, Christmas is about so much more than family gatherings, a baby born to a virgin, or even the coming of one who would pardon our sins. It is about our being …"
…above is only a portion of the whole text - go to:wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=13&year=2007&x=6&y=7

[/quote]

 

[TOP]

“The Kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force.” Does these refer to the passion since John announced the Kingdom was at hand? I also often think of this as well, Apocalypse 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. And power was given him over every tribe, and people, and tongue, and nation. Tim

 

[Mijoy2]

Thursday 13th. December 2007

Now I think I know why St. Teresa of Avila may have called herself a “worm” - perhaps she was familiar with the above passage from Isiah. I must admit I had a giggle when I read the opening words above, after all Jacob and Isreal were “The Lord’s possession” and His beloved. We too are “The Lord’s possession” and His beloved. This reading from Isiah is a particularly consoling type of reading as is the Psalm that follows.

There is a passage in the Gospel that has always mystified me:

If anyone can shed light upon it I would be most grateful. I will have a try to research it. The Gospel too however is one that is a great consolation.

The referral to “being divinized” is in the meditation below.

Today’s Mass Readings

Reading 1

Responsorial Psalm

Gospel

Meditation

wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=13&year=2007&x=6&y=7

Portion only of overall meditation text:

"The crowds that John drew as he preached repentance in the desert were remarkable, especially if you consider how eccentric he appeared. After all, he did wear camel skins and eat bugs. Forsaking family life, he lived in solitude and devoted himself to preaching a fiery message of God’s judgment. But because his heart burned with longing for the Messiah, and because his arguments and witness were so compelling, many were led to turn their lives around.

Jesus, though, wasn’t speaking here to honor a recently retired John the Baptist. It wasn’t sentimentality toward John but…as John would have wanted it, Jesus used this opportunity to invite his listeners into a relationship with his Father.
John has been called by many the greatest of all the Old Testament prophets. Even Jesus said, “among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist.” Greater than Moses? Greater, even, than King Solomon? That must have caused more than a stir among the people. Maybe it even caused them to reconsider who John was and the message he had preached. Even more importantly, maybe it caused some to reconsider Jesus himself, the one John had come to announce.
But then came an even greater surprise: “Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11). That’s right. According to God’s plan, each of us is meant to outshine even the greatest of Old Testament prophets—simply because of the new creation that Jesus came to bring us.
Brothers and sisters, Christmas is about so much more than family gatherings, a baby born to a virgin, or even the coming of one who would pardon our sins. It is about our being …"
…above is only a portion of the whole text - go to:wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=12&day=13&year=2007&x=6&y=7

Amazing co-incidence. As I was attempting to drag myself out of bed this morning the TV was tuned to EWTN. Morning Mass was on and the priest was giving the homily. I was not fully awake but he said this passage you ask about. I was bewildered by it myself and wished I had payed more attention for he was using it in context.

I think EWTN archives thier homilies. Maybe you can find it there. I’ll search myself when I can get the time.

 

[TOP]

Amazing co-incidence. As I was attempting to drag myself out of bed this morning the TV was tuned to EWTN. Morning Mass was on and the priest was giving the homily. I was not fully awake but he said this passage you ask about. I was bewildered by it myself and wished I had payed more attention for he was using it in context.

I think EWTN archives thier homilies. Maybe you can find it there. I’ll search myself when I can get the time.

I saw it this morning after I posted. He refered to the suffering of the Saints including St. Lucy (her feast day) and the Lord Himself to violence. Tim

 

[BarbaraTherese]

I saw it this morning after I posted. He refered to the suffering of the Saints including St. Lucy (her feast day) and the Lord Himself to violence. Tim

Thank you and also to Mijoy2…the passage now makes sense to me and has for years and years puzzled me. Now I wonder why I could not insight it - it is amazing when something is explained or pointed out to me at times, how I can wonder why on earth I could not insight it. When another can explain it to me, then I can also insight how The Holy Spirit chooses also to work through other people, that Christ is indeed in His gathered community as the Head of The Church - which is His possession and His beloved who are but ‘worms and maggots’ - referring to myself only with insight. We are the new Isreal, the new Jerusalem or rather the fulfillment of them. It is all so wondrous…the theology of The Church can almost make me absolutely dance for the joy of it…except dancing is definitely off my agenda!!!

Thank you again - Barb:thumbsup: