Turning Points and Transitions

Message from Fr. Jose Koluthara, CMI

Lord Jesus, touch me and transform my fear to trust in the turning points of life.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

praying assembly today there is a turning point that creates a change of heart or a new mindset. As Within each of the three scripture selections set before the scholars have described it, there is a definite and discernible movement from wretchedness to joy. In today’s first reading (Jer 20:10-13) the plight of Jeremiah openly bemoans the fact that he was called to be a prophet at a turbulent time in his people’s history. Suffering from their rejection of his message and threats against his person, Jeremiah pours out his complaint. Yet, right in the middle of his griping, there is a change, and the jeremiad of the prophet yields to joy. Why? Even amid his difficulties, the prophet was aware of the presence of God with him, “like a mighty champion”. That powerful presence effected a turning point in the prophet’s attitude. Fear turned to trust and desperation to dependence on God.

A similar shift, though more subtly expressed, is evidenced in today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans (Rom 5:12-15). Before Jesus sin reigned in the world, and with sin, death. But with Jesus, God’s gracious and saving gifts were poured forth on a sinful world. Jesus effected in his person and through his mission the turning point of the story of our salvation. Because of Jesus, sin is healed by God’s merciful forgiveness, death yields to life and wretchedness to joy. Walter Brueggemann (The Message of Psalms, 1984) has called this shift or turning point that is reflected in the life and spirituality of the believer a transition from disorientation to new-orientation.

In today’s Gospel (Mt 10:26-33), it is Jesus who makes his disciples aware of the possibility of transitions or turning points in their lives. The disciples should expect to face the same doubt and rejection and to be embroiled in controversy and conflicts as Jesus was. But rather than meet these difficulties with fear or allow those who oppose them and their work to intimidate them, the disciples of Jesus are encouraged by him with the promise of God’s parental and fastidious attentiveness. So carefully does God attend disciples that every hair on their heads is known and protected. With this knowledge of God’s care, disciples can make the transition or turning point from fear to fearless service and from disorientation to a new orientation towards life.