[Convergence]
[Convergence]: the process of state of converging: come together from different directions so as to eventually meet.
This weekend was my weekend to proclaim God’s Word at Mass. I usually begin early in the week with a quick ‘read through’ that culminates in ‘practice’ reading from the pulpit of my kitchen counter four or five times. One of the spiritual benefits of lecturning is that when Mass arrives, the Word has been thoroughly chewed upon. I’m not just reading, I’m allowing it to stir my heart and mind. This weekend I experienced a profound encounter with our Lord during Eucharist. The heavens didn’t open up. Angels weren’t seen circling the altar. I wasn’t miraculously healed of a thorn in my side (or now that I have finished the rough draft of this, perhaps I was- read on). My encounter was having Jesus come to me in those quiet moments following my reception of the Eucharist and explaining the reading even further just for me. As I closed my eyes and allowed myself to find the quiet stillness, this is what Jesus shared…
But you shall say to them: “Thus says the Lord God!” And whether they heed or resist- for they are a rebellious house- they shall know that a prophet has been among them. (Ezekiel 2:4-5)
We are all called to be prophets, it is part of our baptismal identity. It came to me during communion that the modern day lingo for prophet is evangelization. To be a prophet is simply to share what God is saying or doing in my life with another. Jesus highlighted the words, “whether thy heed or resist.” Jesus showed me a thorn in my side. I had been praying this week with St. Paul’s second reading (still to come!) and asking Jesus what thorns in my side He wanted to show me. One of my thorns is my belief that success is in convincing the people I am sharing God with. Jesus showed me that success is the sharing. My call is to share and allow the seeds that I plant to do what they will, that is His job. Moving on to St. Paul’s second reading…
A thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of satan. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:8-9)
Jesus next showed me a thorn that is common to many Catholics: difficulty with the true presence of Jesus’ body, blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist. For myself it is a thorn of desire. I want to experience what I know to be true in my heart and mind. I want the mystical at every Mass! In the last two years I have had the incredible grace to have 5 such moments (for context that’s out of at least 300 Masses). Jesus assures me in this Eucharistic moment that the power of His very self floods my weakness of senses and sustains me independent of my perception. This brought Jesus to the Gospel…
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith. (Mark 6:1-6)
What Jesus shared next was one of those moments of knowing, knowing God’s voice from my own. These are the words He shared during communion.
Is it not just a piece of bread? Is it not just wheat and water? Is it not made by human hands?
This Gospel plays itself out at EVERY Mass in the hearts of countless Catholics. Jesus Christ made present to us, His family, in His own house, in the seemingly ordinary and we miss it. Let’s stop missing it. The best advice I can give is experience. I started praying for greater Eucharistic faith and encounter four years ago and He has met me in my weakness with His divine power. This is a thorn that Jesus longs to remove and heal. Jesus took my preparation with the Word and used that opening to share the thorns of my spiritual life. The Holy Spirit set me on my feet to take what the Lord has done and share it with each of you today: prophecy. That my friends is the [Convergence] available to each of us through the power of prayer in the Mass. Amen.
