Perhaps you have heard of Pope Francis’ “Culture of Encounter.” In very general terms, this Culture of Encounter is interaction marked by mutual respect and openness to understanding in a context of real relationship. You can encounter God—and God can and does encounter you. You can encounter other people. In an encounter there is a mutual, honest sharing–even when there are significant differences.
One of my favorite Pope Francis quotes comes from Evangelii Gaudium: “I invite all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them; I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day.” (paragraph 3)
With that in mind, I am working to encounter God through the readings of today. These readings are hard for me. I need the concept of encounter to be open to what they say.
Encountering God in Revelation
Throughout much of November we have been in Revelation. We hear John’s apocalyptic vision. Scripture scholars tell us Revelation was written during a time of persecution, probably the persecution of Domitian around 95-96 AD. Christians were being martyred everywhere. To them, the visions of John would have been reassuring: the world is calamity around us; we are dying; it helps to believe that perhaps this is part of the end of time, that Christ will return soon, that our deaths will lead to glory.
Their deaths did lead to glory—for them. The Church has always believed that martyrs go straight to heaven. And the faith of the martyrs to their death helped bring about the conversion of Constantine and the Mediterranean world.
But time did not end. Times of struggle have happened again and again through the centuries.
In today’s reading from Revelation, St. John describes the fall of Babylon. Babylon then was Rome. At other times Babylon has been power and evil in many forms, many nations.
Babylon Today?
Today, I wonder: is Babylon the US? Drugs and violence? Dictators? Islamic zealots? Across the world—is it the “Culture of Death”?
Am I living in Babylon? Is God warning me, us, that times of persecution are coming? Is God warning me, us, that we might look to ourselves and see how much in conformity with his Word we are?
Though the picture is of glory, It is not with comfort that I read:
After this I heard what sounded like
the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying:
“Alleluia!
Salvation, glory, and might belong to our God,
for true and just are his judgments.
He has condemned the great harlot
who corrupted the earth with her harlotry.
He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
To the people in St. John’s day, that would have been beautiful music!
But, for me, today, it is not music. When I listen to news, when I hear of scandals in the Church or even when I hear the tones of many who talk about Church issues, I wince. It all sounds like Babylon to me. I don’t want the end to come. I want and pray for more time, more efforts for conversions. “Please, God, give us more time! Please, God, help us know what to do bring EVERYONE to you.”
I keep yearning for Ezra and Nehemiah to appear and name clearly what God asks of us. I yearn for all of us, clergy and laity alike, to compare what we believe and practice to what God’s Word says. Then for us, like the Jews returning from Babylon, to weep, rend the garments of our hearts, and repent. God’s Word says follow the 10 Commandments AND the 8 Beatitudes. It says “take up your cross” AND be a Good Samaritan. It says live by faith AND faith without works is dead. It says be humble AND tell the good news from the housetops. There is a whole section of the catechism, “Life in Christ,” that spells out how we are to live as Christians. Do we read it and compare it to our lives?
Encountering Jesus’ Message to His Disciples
The Gospel conversation today takes place during Holy Week. Jesus is within three or four days of his death. He is trying to prepare his disciples.
His words would have frightened me:
“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars,
and on earth nations will be in dismay,
perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
People will die of fright
in anticipation of what is coming upon the world,
for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Yet Jesus ends on a positive note. He tells his disciples they will see him come again with great power and glory. He tells them:
But when these signs begin to happen,
stand erect and raise your heads
because your redemption is at hand.”
Encounter–God’s Heart and Mine
Encounter happens when people are honest and vulnerable with each other. God, in these Words, was speaking comfort to people in a time of trial or about to enter into a time of trial. But today, I do not find them comforting. God’s Word today frightens me. I have heard more than one homilist this month say in effect, “These readings in November do not say what it sounds like they say. God is not warning us. He is reassuring us. He is speaking hope.”
While I have great hope in God, I know God speaks Truth. Truth here is that at some point evil loses. Before it loses, there is great tribulation. This is true when evil loses in an individual or in the Church or in history.
History speaks Truth, too. History tells us that those times of tribulation have come again and again. As a pastor told me many years ago, “In every life there are at least one or two times of tribulation.” In every century, too. In every land sooner or later.
The psalm today reminds us “Blessed are they who are called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” For those called to the wedding feast (hopefully we are all included), times of tribulation pass to times of joy, feasting, and glory.
But first we follow Christ—ALL of Christ—ALL he says, 10 Commandments and Beatitudes alike. In the end, for me, this encounter says, “Mary, do not be a cafeteria Catholic. Choose God–all of God. God is mercy–and justice. God is justice–and mercy. So must I be.”
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for this encounter with You today. It is a confrontation to remind me that struggle between good and evil is a part of my life, of every Christian’s life. During tribulation we must choose You over evil. There are consequences for what we choose–eternal consequences. Lord, I worry about the many, many, many people I know who no longer believe in You, who do not live by Your laws and beatitudes. I worry about the many people who believe in You and follow You where it is comfortable, but do not want to go with you through times of tribulation. Lord, You know that sometimes I’m in that category. Keep on confronting and pricking and questioning me, until I am strong enough to be called into the wedding feast of the Lamb. Keep on calling ALL of us, Lord, that we might ALL enter in with You. Lead me, guide me, Lord.
Note:
Next week, as Advent and a new cycle of readings begin, Dan McFeely and I will trade days. Dan will write for Thursday and I will write for Monday.
