Dailyword, 20 Jan 20

Tuesday, 2^nd Week of the Year (20 Jan 2020)

1Sm 15. 16-23; Ps 50; Mk 2. 18-22

Homily of Fr. Paul Panaretos, S.J., Full Spiritual Exercises

Coping with Saul-syndrome

Do any of us cope with Saul-syndrome? When we do not adequately esteem ourselves, the Saul-syndrome has gripped us. The syndrome prevents us from viewing ourselves as our triune God creates. It frequently affects us though we feel it does not. Hear again Samuel’s initial diagnosis of the syndrome: Though little in your own esteem, [Saul,] are you not leader of the tribes of Israel? That is, Israel’s first monarch did not feel deeply in relationship with God’s people whom he led. Saul focused on a ritual more than on his relationships with God and people—as though enacting a ritual command would make him right with God. Hence Samuel’s words at the end of the passage about heartfelt listening and attention: they counteract idolatry.

When relationships cease to enjoy central place we readily become preoccupied with things and activities—even holy ones—some-times rigidly: we are victimized by what we think we control. That is full blown Saul-syndrome.

We do have parts to play in Christian ritual activities. They help deepen our relationship with our Eternal God. Yet rituals can become our idols. How can we know they are turning that way? We lack joy—not happiness but joy. That was Jesus’ diagnosis when people inquired why he and his disciples did not fast. John and his disciples fasted to prepare for God’s reign. With Jesus it had begun.

God was working something marvellously new, and the religious elite prevented themselves from noticing because they fasted: more often than God had required;¹ and they fasted to be noticed rather than deepen their relationship with God. They did not rejoice at God’s action but rejoiced when others noticed them fasting.²

Yet others noticed God’s new creation. Restoring one who was paralyzed to physical health and interior wholeness—healing forgiveness—and reaching out to those on the margins was revolutionary.³ In doing that restoring Jesus was not patching people, society or creation. Jesus was the finger of God⁴ touching, transforming, creatively caressing and restoring everything.

The original word in Jesus’ first brief parable answering those who questioned him is fullness not patch. Here’s why: we’ve purchased preshrunk fabric or clothing. Both were unavailable in 1^st-C Palestine. New cloth has yet to shrink. Using it “to patch” would defeat one’s mending exercise. Similarly, misusing fasting, abusing fasting starved one from joy at what God was doing. It tore away one’s free welcome of God to be refashioned.

The First Week of the Spiritual Exercises allows us to notice God’s fullness; to feel God’s fullness acting for us and to welcome it wholeheartedly. As we do we reengage with joy; our esteem blossoms; and so does the presence of God where we are.

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1. Leviticus 16.29note 
2. Matthew 6.16-18.
3. The previous two daily Gospels.
4. Luke 11.20.

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Wiki-images: Bridegroom’s arrival No restrictions. By sannse Cloth. CC BY-SA 3.0