A reflection the daily readings, for the Memorial of St. John of the Cross, priest and doctor of the church, by Father Perry.
+ What is it about the poor? Why are they so special in the scriptures? Why do they seem to listen to God and walk in his ways more? Better? With open hearts?
+ The spiritual writers say: “Because there is ‘room in their hearts’ for God.”
The thinking is that people who have too much clutter and stuff in their lives (money, material possessions, the need for power, activity, control, attention) do not have any inner space that can be filled — even with God.
They are already overflowing with their own needs and their own stuff.
But the poor, theoretically, are “in need“; and usually their needs, well, they just cannot fill them on their own.
They need to turn to God and discover only in God can they find hope for a better future.
They connect precisely because they need. And they pretty much prove the point that the psalmist puts into our mouths in song today: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.”
+ But inner poverty of spirit comes in many forms.
In the Gospel, we have two sons responding to their father’s request that they go into the field to work.
One son says: “Sure, pop.”
What a good boy! But, in the end, he does not go. He appears congenial, responsive and obedient to his father at first sight, but proves to be insincere and ultimately unresponsive.
The other son says: “No, I will not go.”
At first he appears to be the spoiled brat, the “goo goo” of the family, the one who does only what he wants to do.
But, wait! What’s this?
He is bratty at first. He oinks out his needs and wants in expressive outbursts. But — wow! — he proves to be the one with a rich inner spirit.
He feels what, guilt? Remorse? Shame? Love?
Whatever it was, he readily regrets it, and without a word goes out and does what was asked of him.
“Who did his father’s will?” Jesus asked.
Answer: the “bratty, impulsive son” — and the “prostitutes”; and the “tax collectors”; and the “sinners”; and the “impulsive”; and the “attitude-filled” who in spite of their spiritual poverty, still have inner space that God can fill.
That love, who is God, can fill, where goodness and grace can touch, change, transform, open, fill, and bless.
This is spiritual insight! This is spiritual potential!
This is what can happen when we see, hear, and open heart and soul to God to our best self and to one-another!
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
