Beyond Comprehension
Homily for 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Jer. 20:7-9, Ps. 63, Rom. 12:1-2, Mt. 16:21-27
Beyond Comprehension
The bright light of truth is hard to bear after staring so long into the darkness,
This isn’t an original thought of mine but more so a paraphrase of St John of Cross or Plato’s Allegory of The Cave. The quote from St John of the Cross is, “The divine light of contemplation, when it beats on the soul not yet perfectly enlightened, causes spiritual darkness." We can’t see much in the dark, but then seeing the light, we need to be acclimated to truly see. Plato’s Allegory of the cave describes our existence as living in a cave only seeing shadows on the wall. We have no idea what the light is or what creates the shadows, yet we engage with shadows as if they are the only reality. If only we would turn around and walk out of the cave to find reality, but we like the shadows better for they are what we know.
God’s plans are beyond our comprehension. Our plans we comprehend. We end up choosing what we comprehend knowing that it isn’t God’s plan. The prophets of the Old Testament repeatedly shared a divine message beyond the comprehension of the people and they ended up being initially ridiculed, ignored, or killed. Eventually, the people comprehend what they initially fought as foolishness. Jesus, received a very similar response. The apostles followed suit. Even the disciples living with Jesus face to face could not or would not comprehend the truth. Admit it. We are slow learners. Are we willing to speak of incomprehensible truth?
Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. This is part of the Gospel of Matthew but would be foolish in any accredited business school in the Western world. Our natural inclination and cultural norm is self preservation. Survival of the fittest. Absolute foolishness in the eyes of God, even most animals do not behave as self important and ruthlessly territorial as we are intentionally excluding the marginalized. Maybe not with blatant intentionality, but we do it nonetheless, hoarding what is meant to be shared.
Ponder for a minute all of our life's goals. Write them down. All the things, powers, possessions, titles, and comforts. Now read what Jesus told his disciples next. “What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Honestly, are our life goals anything to do with the next life or about gaining “status and stuff” in this life? Brutal. The truth is so hard to see living in a society that glamorizes everything except denying oneself for the sake of the Kingdom of God. But we want prosperity, right? Or do we want salvation?
Get behind me Satan. You are an obstacle to me. Is this what we say when we feel that desire for more stuff and more financial security? Would that be such a bad idea? Are we doing our souls a great disservice by staring so intently on the darkness? Let’s consider challenging ourselves today. Turn around. Look into the light too strong to bear. Then we will truly see. Is the life we seek then anything like the life we seek now? Help me comprehend, Lord beyond understanding. Help me trust you in what I cannot comprehend.