The Father of compassion and God of all encouragement

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Jesus Christ

Blessed be the God and Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5 New American Bible translation)

The first word that comes to mind when I read this is WITNESS.  This verse is calling us to take a closer look at our lives – past and present – in order to notice the ways in which God has blessed us.  How has God encouraged us on our journey? We are called to share our lives with others, to witness to others the ways in which God has blessed us.  We are called to witness  especially to those in most need of encouragement.

As believers we understand that we are the branches and Jesus is the vine.  We are all “parts” of the one body as we’ve read in 1 Corinthians 12.  In essence, the whole cannot function without each part.  What this tells us is that we were meant to function as a community, we were meant to live in community.  Not only do we need Christ, but we need each other as well.  Of course, we all have different strengths and talents and are encouraged to embrace, nurture and share them.  Yet, so much of our time here on earth is spent wishing we were like someone else, wishing we lived somewhere else, simply wishing and not living.  If we nurtured the talents and strengths we possessed and then pooled them together in community, our world would be a much better place.  We tend to forget that all we are and have is through God’s grace and not our own accord.

Besides sharing our gifts, talents and good fortune, I feel this Scripture verse is telling us to share our “horror” stories too.  It is telling us to share our shortcomings and shame, because when we do, we will see that we are not alone and we don’t have to suffer or fear alone.  It is in the knowing we are not alone that we are encouraged.  God gets us through – share with others how He does that.  Help them see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Your story matters to the community, your story needs to be woven into the fabric of creation, that’s why it exists.  Sharing a story works to benefit the storyteller and the listener.  It relieves the pressure or shame that comes with keeping a “secret” and it helps us realize that we are all connected in one way or another and it is this connection that heals.

I think of the many different people who have shared their stories – Oprah, Cynthia Bond, Amy Purdy, and many other celebrities and I realize that the common thread in the decision to tell their stories was RELIEF.  They wanted to relieve themselves of the poison they held on to.  The common result of sharing their stories:  a sense of freedom.  Their gift to others:  a teaching moment.  I also think of the many people I know and even some celebrities, Michael Jackson for example, who do not share their stories of tragedy or what they perceive to be shame and the common thread I sense is a loss of freedom, a closed, tortured sense of self, a failure to perceive a teachable moment.  In a sense, a lost soul – one that tries and tries to find their true identity but fails and continues to be defined by the false sense of self – a self-inflicted, sad existence.  An existence which fails to see the true beauty and benefit of living in community.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 tells us that God encourages us through every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God.  What does that mean for you?  Don’t hold back what God is calling you to share, good or bad.  Don’t just sit back and be a receiver.  Open yourself up, become vulnerable, become a giver, a healer!  Remember you are not alone.  God bless you!

Office of Readings – Ash Wednesday

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Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday

I love praying the Psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours.  Not only does it relax me, it also allows me the opportunity to focus on God’s grace.  It forces me to think of all the ways God is present in my life and in the world.  As I prayed the Office of Readings this morning, I read a beautiful letter to the Corinthians by St. Clement (Pope).  I thought I would share it on this Ash Wednesday as a reminder that God is constantly inviting us to open our hearts to Him and how He responds when we do.  A reminder of our call to live in hope, no matter how “bad” we perceive our lives and the world to be.  We must remember God has the final word, He is the victor and we are being called to TRUST in Him.  So let’s “fast” from fear and “feast” on hope!

From a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, Pope

Let us fix our attention on the blood of Christ and recognize how precious it is to God his Father, since it was shed for our salvation and brought the grace of repentance to all the world.

If we review the various ages of history, we will see that in every generation the Lord has offered the opportunity of repentance to any who were willing to turn to him.  When Noah preached God’s message of repentance, all who listened to him were saved.  Jonah told the Ninevites they were going to be destroyed, but when they repented, their prayers gained God’s forgiveness for their sins, and they were saved, even though they were not of God’s people.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the ministers of God’s grace have spoken of repentance; indeed, the Master of the whole universe himself spoke of repentance with an oath: As I live, says the Lord, I do not wish the death of the sinner but his repentance.  He added this evidence of his goodness: House of Israel, repent of your wickedness.  Tell the sons of my people:  If their sins should reach from earth to heaven, if they are brighter than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, you need only turn to me with your whole heart and say, “Father,” and I will listen to you as a holy people.

In other words, God wanted all his beloved ones to have the opportunity to repent and he confirmed this desire by his own almighty will.  That is why we should obey his sovereign and glorious will and prayerfully entreat his mercy and kindness.  We should be suppliant before him and turn to his compassion, rejecting empty works and quarrelling and jealousy which only lead to death.

Brothers, we should be humble in mind, putting aside all arrogance, pride and foolish anger.  Rather, we should act in accordance with the Scriptures, as the Holy Spirit says:  The wise man must not glory in his wisdom nor the strong man in his strength nor the rich man in his riches.  Rather, let him who glories glory in the Lord by seeking him and doing what is right and just.  Recall especially what the Lord Jesus said when he taught gentleness and forbearance.  Be merciful, he said, so that you may have mercy shown to you.  Forgive, so that you may be forgiven.  As you treat others, so you will be treated.  As you give, so you will receive.  As you judge, so you will be judged.  As you are kind to others, so you will be treated kindly.  The measure of your giving will be the measure of your receiving.  Let these commandments and precepts strengthen us to live in humble obedience to his sacred words.  As Scripture asks:  Whom shall I look upon with favor except the humble, peaceful man who trembles at my words?

Sharing then in the heritage of so many vast and glorious achievements, let us hasten toward the goal of peace, set before us from the beginning.  Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on the Father and Creator of the whole universe, and hold fast to his splendid and transcendent gifts of peace and all his blessings.

I hope you enjoyed this reading!  God bless you!