Word to the Wise
Tuesday, July 7, 2015 - Tuesday in the 14th Week in Ordinary Time
[Gen 32:23-33 and Matt 9:32-38]"You shall no longer be spoken of as Jacob, but as Israel, because you have contended with divine and human beings and have prevailed." [Genesis]
One of the distinct features of many of the great Old Testament figures such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ellijah, Elisha and the prophets is their intimacy with God. Sometimes that intimacy is expressed in contention. Jacob's night-long wrestle with an adversary (Hosea calls it an angel, Hos 12:5) seems to end in a tie with Jacob managing to get a blessing and a new name, Israel! However, he doesn't come away unscathed. His adversary gives him left hip problems and sciatica! (I don't recall wrestling with anyone for mine!)
Do you feel comfortable "contending" with God? This doesn't necessarily mean one is equal with God. However, parents do know how contentious their children can be, so the experience shouldn't be a new one even if, in the case of God, we are in the position of children. Abraham's bargaining over Sodom and Gomorrah, Jacob's wrestling, Moses' arguments, and the prophets' reluctance to respond to their call are all examples. Can any of us recall instances of such contentions? We may easily forget those bargains but they represent special moments of vulnerability and faith. And, we may have to accept some consequences that stay with us as a result. AMEN