The Communal and Individual

Gospel: John 14: 1-12

The spiritual life is a journey undertaken with others, and at the same time it is one we traverse alone, as today's Gospel portion denotes.  We have a common path, the Way of Jesus, and we follow that path together, seeking to imitate the Lord in the way of compassion, love, and mercy in our lives.  We seek the support of others in this journey, and we provide help to others as well.  This constitutes the communal aspect of the spiritual life.  

At the same time, Jesus notes that the mansion of God has many dwelling places, representing the individual aspect of the spiritual journey.  Each one of us has our own unique relationship to God that may be similar to others, but never identical.  We all seek to follow the Way of compassion, love, and mercy, but we will carry out those deeds in our own way and in the particular circumstances of life in which we find ourselves.  

In the Christian tradition the monastery serves as a perfect representation of these two complementary elements of the spiritual life.  There are the common spaces of the chapel and dining hall and the work room.  But there is the cell of the monk that is all their own, a place to be alone with God in silence.  In our own lives we can create such spaces, places to gather with others for the common journey, and places for us to be alone with God in our cell. 

The Master's House

Gospel: John 14: 7-14

Usually in his teaching Jesus uses images and metaphors that are familiar to his audience.  When he refers to fig trees, mustard seeds, grains of wheat, sheep and goats, coins, and pearls Jesus employs everyday items with which people can identify and relate.  This is a very important and effective teaching strategy.  If Jesus is able to relate to his audience, they can more readily understand his ideas about God and the kingdom and hopefully strive to live in a way that aims to arriving at that kingdom.

Today, however, Jesus uses an image almost no one in his day could relate.  He states that in his Father's house there are many dwelling places.  He says this to people who live in houses with just a few rooms where many people live.  In these small houses there was little room and no privacy.  They may have seen from afar the grand palaces of Herod or some wealthy landowners, but they would never have been inside such places.  These palatial homes were grand imaginings for must people.

God's house has many dwelling places, one for each of us.  What does this mean? Each person's relationship with God is unique and personal.  No two people will have the same identical relationship with God.  There may be similarities, but there will never be identical ones.  The kingdom of God is bigger than we can ever imagine, and that is the point.  We come together to share each one's experience of God, the similarities, the unique points, knowing God is present to each person in their own dwelling. 

Wisdom at Work

Gospel: Matthew 13: 54-58

People are searching high and low for the source of Jesus' power and wisdom.  Various theories are put forth, but Jesus responds to none of it.  Today's Gospel portion has him at Nazareth with his family, and the wondering starts anew.  Isn't this the carpenter's son?  There is Mary and his siblings.  We know them all.  Where could he have possibly acquired this wisdom and power?  Again, Jesus responds to none of these comments.  He simply goes about his work.

Perhaps it was in the ordinary work he learned at home from Joseph and Mary where Jesus gained his wisdom.  His parables and teachings use ordinary situations of daily life to teach deep spiritual lessons.  There is no esoteric learning here, nor abstract Hellenic philosophy.  Jesus paid attention to the ordinary things of daily life and found great wisdom in them.  He learned to cultivate a healing presence of being that brought comfort to other people.  

We go about in search of wisdom and miracles to far and exotic places.  We pour through vast arcana of spiritual writers and philosophers.  But the wisdom is right here in our daily life and work.  That is the message of today's feast.  Our ordinary work and life experiences provide all we need to acquire wisdom and a healing presence if we but reflect upon these as Jesus did and cultivate them through discipline and meditation.