The first reading today is from the book of Proverbs. Many Catholics throughout the world pray the psalms, especially the monks, who pray the psalms six times a day. We do not hear very much about the Proverbs though. It is also a little unusual that we have a couple of readings from the book of Proverbs for mass this week, but there is no continuation next week, although we do have readings from the books of Job and Ecclesiastes.
The psalms, proverbs, the book of Job, and Ecclesiastes are all written in a poetry or verse form. They are expressed through an equal distribution of thought, but in separate lines of verse. They often repeat the same thought using different ways of expressing it and their intent is to teach or instruct the reader. The Psalms are more of a form of prayer and praise, the Proverbs are statements on moral matters, and the book of Job is a beautiful examination of human suffering and evil.
Since the intent of the book of Proverbs is to instruct the reader then it would be wise to see how it fits with today’s gospel. Whoever put the readings for Mass together often had a particular theme, or related thought in mind. Today’s gospel is very short:
“The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.’ He said to them in replay, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
The words in today’s gospel, “those who hear the word of God and act on it” is reflected in today’s first reading for Mass from the book of Proverbs too. The third line in the reading from Proverbs today says, “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”
It isn’t enough to know God’s will. If we don’t do something about what He wants us to do, then we do not really love Him as a son or daughter. The power of suggestion, our own wants, coincidences, other people’s opinion, our education in the church, etc. are not the same thing as knowing God, and knowing His will. In your heart, you know what God wants from you. Sometimes it is simply love for other people that motivates us in our normal day to day living. We love our family, friends, coworkers, classmates, or those in the community we live in, so we act on what their needs are. This is a genuine way of living out the gospel in our lives, on acting on the word of God.
The first sentence of the reading from Proverbs says though, that: ” All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes, but it is the Lord who proves hearts.”
We may think we are doing all the right things in life, but still not be esteemed in God’s eyes. Inside our motives, are usually an element of selfishness or self will. We seldom listen for God’s voice speaking to our hearts. Even if we do feel the gentle, or even sometimes powerful nudging’s of the Holy Spirit, calling us toward a particular action, it is easier to not act on it. It’s inconvenient, or seems impossible to do, or we are busy with other things, too many demands on our life already to drop everything and do what these nudging’s from the Spirit are calling us to do.
Discernment is a difficult process. One that is not to be taken lightly. Discernment always goes hand in hand with prayer and it is not impulsive. So many times we act on our impulses and it turns out to be the wrong thing. To obey the Holy Spirit is never the wrong thing, no matter how much we resist the Spirit’s promptings though. If God wants something from you, and you do not act on it though, the promptings usually become more and more persistent, but He doesn’t force Himself on you. He respects your freewill, and after a while, the promptings go away. Sometimes you may find out that someone else did listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit though, and it was the same thing you resisted doing. That can make you feel pretty guilty that you did not do what God wanted, but someone else did.
That follows along with the last line in the reading from Proverbs too: “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.” So, if you feel the genuine promptings of the Holy Spirit and do not act on it, this will damage your relationship with God. He doesn’t abandon you, but He also does not expect His love to be one sided.
Trust your feelings. Give it some time. Pray. Discern God’s will. Then, when you are reasonably sure you know what He is asking of you, then act on it. You will never be sorry that you helped to manifest God’s love into the world.
Daily Mass Readings: Proverbs 21: 1-6, 10-13 / Psalm 119 / Luke 8: 19-21
