Daily Reflection
July 7, 2004

Consider this today: can you relate the beautiful image used by Hosea, the image of luxuriant growth which occurs in a new field plowed, watered and sown by loving hands, to the experience of discipleship and ministry? In many ways the world of human experience, struggle, and choice is no different now than it was when Hosea wrote these words about the idolatries, false values (“their heart is false”), the arrogance of “high places” and “sacred pillars,” the destructive consequences of all our pridefulness. It might be helpful in our prayer to reflect upon the forms of all these sins today, both in our personal lives and in the structures of society.

Then I suggest we enter into a very Ignatian form of contemplation; let each of us imagine that we are among that group “summoned” by Jesus, the Twelve, and sent out into the midst of today’s turmoil and violence to heal the contrite and to proclaim good news to the poor. Let’s listen carefully to the voice of Jesus, feel his strong and loving regard, and copy his patience, gentleness, and meekness. What does He have to tell me today? Where am I being sent? What does He want me to do? And with whom am I summoned and sent? It is important to be personal, specific, concrete, down to earth.

I think it is especially important that we get right the precise mission to which we are called by Jesus. “As you go, make this proclamation: ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ ” Is that the gist of my own understanding of salvation? Is that what I do when I talk to people about faith and discipleship and the “Way?” Is that what my own way of being with people, working with them, reaching out to them reveals? Anything else is compromising with the evil one, with unclean spirits. The Good News has to be totally that: “Good News” - it can never be negative, judgmental, righteous, accusatory, dominating, or forced. Jesus healed, invited, affirmed, empowered, lifted up. He gave people back themselves, and, in doing this, He restored in them their Godliness.

After this very careful, personal and honest examination of my own style of proclamation, I will ask for forgiveness and for whatever graces I discover I need to be an apostle. This familiar and marvelous prayer (of St. Francis) can be a fitting conclusion: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred let me sow love, where there is injury pardon, where there is doubt faith, where there is despair hope, where there is darkness light, and where there is sadness joy. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.”