Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time
We can wonder what it was like for St. Paul to be a prisoner in Rome between the years 60-62. Today we would likely refer to him as a political prisoner under house arrest. At any rate, he must have had a certain amount of access to writing materials and visitors. The more important question is, how did his experience of being imprisoned at least twice and facing execution effect his thoughts about his accomplishments in life?
Scholars tell us that today’s reading from Colossians, as well as the letters to the Ephesians, Philippians, and Philemon, were written by St. Paul the prisoner. We can wonder if the depths of faith to which he was calling his readers came from confronting his own death and termination of unfinished goals. Contrary to the secular thought of death then and today, death is not the measure of our accomplishments, but the constant reminder to treasure and incorporate the fullness of the relationship with the person of Jesus throughout our life. Jesus sets the tone in today’s Gospel Beatitudes, reminding us of our connection with that overflowing relationship with God. It takes us through and beyond the most challenging of human experiences.
Whenever St. Paul talks about the fullness of the Spirit and likewise when Jesus speaks about the Kingdom of God there is a clear invitation for each of us to look beyond the defeated power of death. We look beyond the iron bars and walls and repeat our choice for the fullness of life. That becomes our jail break!
Reflection by Fr. Daniel Petsche, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections