14th Sunday

14th Sunday
July 4, 2004

Oh, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, that you may nurse with delight at her abundant breasts....As nurslings, you shall be carried in her arms, and fondled in her lap; as a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you in (Isaiah 16:10-14)
• The prophet uses a metaphor in which we are cuddled and nurtured by the Most High, as a good mother would be with an infant child. Most of us probably cannot remember those earliest months of life when we either were, or were not provided that absolutely essential experience in life: being totally supported, body and soul, by a loving and devoted parent, without having to do anything to deserve it. With that experience the foundations of our ability to handle all kinds of difficult situations, play freely, love others, and work productively were laid down. Without that experience, the ordinary challenges of life present continued and often severe obstacles.
• We, children of the Most High, have no such uncertainty. There is no spiritual lottery in which some of us get what we need and others do not. All of us have this opportunity to snuggle at the breasts of God, be fondled in her lap, carried in his arms. All of us have access to this divine parent regardless of the circumstances. For some of us, because of the failures of human parents, it is more difficult to perceive or experience this.
• The prophet's metaphor refers to Israel, the chosen people of the Most High through whom, and in whom this divine nurturance takes place. By extension, this applies to all communities, large and small, formal and informal where God's truth, goodness and beauty is recognized and honored. Whenever we nurture one another, we are doing divine work. Whenever we fail to do it, we postpone the day when the prophet's vision will be fulfilled for everyone.
"I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky... Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:1-20)
• Jesus' made this reply to his disciples after they are amazed and elated to find out how much power and authority they have when preaching in his name. He is cautioning them not to overemphasize its importance. Any power we might possess is not our own and does not come from our own strength.
• In reality we are as helpless as infants when it comes to achieving the really important things: overcoming personal obstacles, generosity, selflessness. As those of us recovering from addictions know, this overcoming of the demons only occurs when we acknowledge our helplessness, and give up struggling. We prevail only because our names are written in heaven. The "spirits" will only prevail as long as we think that we can struggle against them successfully on our own.