November 2007

Stories Seldom Heard

90th Edition

Paul’s Letter to the Romans 11:29 - 36

Welcome to Stories Seldom Heard.  I especially would like to welcome those from St. Vincent’s Parish in Vallejo, CA.  November is a beautiful time of year and even though we experience the change of seasons slightly differently depending on our geographic area, there is a sense of change as we look around us.   We, in the northern hemisphere, delight in the fall colors and the smells of dying leaves and damp evening air.  But our friends in the southern hemisphere are aware of a different reality - the thawing of the cold and the anticipation of the warmth of the summer sun.  However, no matter where we live, as we enter into the November daily Mass readings we hear selections from Paul’s Letter to the Romans.  

Each day’s reading holds within it a jewel not to be missed.  Paul has left us with some lovely passages that offer us rich thoughts for prayer and meditation.  Since we can’t do justice to all of them, I thought we would spend some time with Monday’s reading: Romans 11:29 - 36. (Thirty-First Week of ordinary time)  The Jerusalem Bible entitles this section “A Hymn to God’s Mercy and Wisdom” and this passage, like a hymn, lifts up our spirits.  But this feeling of joy and gratitude comes at the end of a very long exploration on Paul’s part.  For the last three chapters, Paul has been struggling with the issues of belief in Jesus and disobedience to God’s laws.  Paul recognizes that both Jews and Christians are in need of God’s mercy.  As Paul struggles to resolve these questions he ultimately ends up by saying it is God’s mercy that wins out. 

God is the ultimate actor, the One who has the last word - and that word is mercy.  Nothing, not even human disobedience is a barrier to God’s mercy.  Paul even goes so far as to say that God uses our rebellious hearts to reveal to us the depth, breadth and completeness of God’s mercy.  “God has imprisoned all in disobedience that God might have mercy on all.” (Rm 11: 32)  This line is rather paradoxical and is not only confusing for us, but was a struggle for Paul to understand.  However, Paul does come to a strong and convincing conclusion.  Yes, we are all imprisoned in disobedience.  Yes, all of us need to experience God’s mercy and forgiveness, and yes God’s love of us is irreversible.  No matter who we are our hope is rooted in God’s mercy.  This resolution, even though Paul does not fully understand it, exposes the core of Jesus’ teachings and Paul’s deepening belief. 

Somehow Paul comes through the pain and agony of his doubts and questions to the realization of the mercy of God.  It is at this point in the letter that Paul’s writing changes dramatically.  We can hear in his words not only a confirmation of Paul’s trust in God’s mercy, but also Paul’s great relief.  “How deep are the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God.  How inscrutable God’s judgments, how unsearchable God’s ways.”  (Rm. 11:33)   Paul’s gratitude and joy are palpable!  If we were to use our imaginations, we could easily see Paul looking up to heaven and throwing up his arms saying, “How inscrutable your judgments, O God.  How mysterious Your ways.”

Paul is not alone in this hymn of praise that underscores the mystery of God’s mercy, forgiveness and irreversible love.  On a personal level, we, too, are often reminded by scripture that we don’t know the mind of God.  God’s ways are not our ways.    Our lives are filled with mystery – not only when we reflect on God and God’s love, but when we consider the circumstances of our lives over which we have no control.    We did not choose the place or timing of our birth.  We did not choose the family in which we were born.    An older friend of mine who just had her 89th birthday and is still going strong said, “I think I have lived at the best of times.  I am so grateful for my life and I know it has all been sheer gift.” 

However, not all of the circumstances of our lives are without our consent.  There are also the many decisions we have made that have helped shape our lives.  Even simple choices can have a profound effect on us.  But think of the big ones, the ones that have set us in a distinct direction.  The marriage partner to whom we were drawn, the vocation we choose, the schools from which we graduated, the neighborhoods in which we settled, all these choices have had a profound effect on our lives. 

Carl Dennis, an American poet, who won the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for poetry has a poem called "The God Who Loves You".  It’s a playful poem that invites us to imagine our lives differently.  Dennis teases our minds to entertain multiple possibilities, we could have chosen that would have made our lives totally different.  “It must be troubling for the god who loves you/ To ponder how much happier you'd be today/ Had you been able to glimpse your many futures./ It must be painful for him to watch you on Friday evenings/ Driving home from the office, content with your week— Three fine houses sold to deserving families—/ Knowing as he does exactly what would have happened/ Had you gone to your second choice for college,/ Knowing the roommate you'd have been allotted/ Whose ardent opinions on painting and music / Would have kindled in you a lifelong passion…. ⁽¹⁾

Paul’s letter to the Romans, however, invites us to more than just a personal reflection on the decisions we have made or not made.  Paul’s words remind us that underneath our decisions and the daily questions we ponder concerning what is right or wrong, God’s love and mercy plays a central part.  All of us, Paul says, have been disobedient and all of us have received God’s mercy.  When we, like Paul, realize this it can be enough to change our lives.  Paul doesn’t understand why God is so benevolent, but Paul has experienced it in his bones and so cries out in a hymn of praise. 

Paul’s experience echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah (Is.40:13).  These words come at a time of transition for the Israelite people.  Chapter 40 is entitled “The Book of the Consolation of Israel”.  It announces both God’s justice and God’s tender mercy.  The Israelites have been in exile in Babylon, but once again God relents.  The Prophet reminds the Israelites of God’s steadfast love and proclaims, “The word of God remains forever… Here is your God…He is like a shepherd feeding his flocks, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast, and leading to their rest the mother ewes.” (Is. 40: 8,11) 

As the chapter progresses and the theme continues through the next few chapters, the writer sets up a trial scene, initiated by God, where God has to defend God’s actions of mercy.  It is well worth reading especially as we approach the daily Mass readings for Advent which come from the Book of Isaiah.  Woven through these chapters as part of God’s defense are the wonders and majesty of God.  And the Holy One asks “Who can be my equal?”  As if to answer God’s own question, the following lines are filled with promise and hope as we hear of God’s patience and faithfulness.  No doubt, Paul knew the writings of Isaiah well since Paul, a Pharisee, was a student of the law and the scriptures.  However, Paul, who no doubt is a bit like us, needs to ask the questions for himself and come to his own conclusions which he does in Romans 11:33. 

In the end, both Paul and the writer of the book of Isaiah, bow to the wisdom and majesty of God.  They also come to understand that we cannot define justice for God.  God’s justice is not our kind of justice. God’s justice is placed in the midst of God’s unconditional love.  God’s gratuitous love and mercy surround God’s justice.     

Paul’s hymn of praise in his letter to the Romans encourages us to ponder the mysteries of God and the gifts of our individual and communal lives.  The change of seasons reminds all of us of our connectedness.  As our universe changes so do we.  As we ponder the scriptures in common and reflect on the mysteries of our faith, we continue to be bonded together in profound and unique ways.  So before we enter into a new season of the year, whichever it is, it seems like an appropriate time to pause.  

This in-between time is a natural break to reflect on our connectedness with one another and our universe.  We also might want to take a moment to appreciate the memories of the passing season and to ask ourselves some questions.  What is the gift of the season that is now coming to an end?  What is the mystery we ask God to hold for us because we don’t know and can’t find an answer?  Where do I experience the need for God's mercy?   What is it for which we give thanks?  It is also a time to pray for those in other parts of the world who need our prayers and know of our concern.

1.  Carl Dennis, Practical Gods, Penguin Poets, 2001

Special thanks to Sharon Grant, Mary Ellen Green and Jeanne Keating who have helped in editing this article.

"Stories Seldom Heard" is a monthly article written by Sister Patricia Bruno, O.P.  Sister is a Dominican Sister of San Rafael, California.  This service is offered to the Christian community to enrich one's personal and spiritual life.  The articles can be used for individual or group reflection.  If you would like "Stories Seldom Heard" sent to a friend, please send a note to "purple115@juno.com".  If you would like to support this ministry, please send tax deductible contributions to Dominican Sisters of San Rafael, c/o Sister Patricia Bruno, O.P., 1520 Grand Avenue, San Rafael, CA,   94901

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