A recent New Yorker cartoon featured a youngish-looking man seated on the living room couch following a meal in a studio apartment. Fiddling with his cellphone while a woman is dutifully washing the dishes, the man apparently has asked, “Do you mind doing the dishes every night?” The woman responded: “I don’t mind doing the dishes every night—it gives me time to deepen my resentment.”
Daily life presents multiple opportunities for all of us to allow the imperfection of life in this world—especially the imperfections of others whose lack of consideration evidences itself in how they put themselves first and give very little consideration to others (especially ourselves)—to fill us with resentment. That resentment, in turn, causes divisions—in our marriages, families, schools, workplaces, and the like—to the point we can end up spending our days alienated from if not wanting to have little if anything with others.
Today’s readings offer an antidote to this particular kind of imperfection by directing our attention to a word many of us don’t much like to hear: “Discipline”…as in developing “self-discipline,” what Jesus called the “narrow way.”
For many, the word conjures up images of penance, chastisement, and even harsh punishment…all for the sake of correction, of course! Discipline is necessary, so it’s said, to correct what’s incorrect, to make right what’s wrong, and to make good what’s bad. If the caricature is in any way accurate, this resistance to the word “discipline” goes back to the childhood and elementary school years when parents and teachers “disciplined” their miscreant and unruly children and students.
Yes, the word “discipline” connotes all of that, making discipline—and especially self-discipline—an important, albeit undesirable, aspect of life.
For some others, the word conjures up images of self-denial and physical self-restraint as well as enduring pain and hardship…all in search of changing something for the better, of course! Discipline is necessary, so it’s said, to become healthy by dieting, strong by exercising, and successful in a pursuit by focusing upon the end not the challenging means to that end. If this caricature in any way is accurate, resistance to the word “discipline” conjures up images of failures to follow through on many New Year’s resolutions.
Yes, the word “discipline” connotes all of that, making discipline an important, albeit accepted but oftentimes failed, aspect of life.
For yet even others, the word conjures up images of learning, increasing knowledge, and accepting instruction…of being a student. Discipline is necessary, so it’s said, to become knowledgeable and wise in order to fulfill one’s potential by patterning one’s days according to the truth rather than mere personal opinion or what the majority may currently believe is true. If this caricature is in any way accurate, resistance to the word “discipline” conjures up images of pulling “all-nighters” or getting up early in the morning to study for a test or complete homework assignments.
Yes, the word “discipline” connotes all of that, making discipline an important, albeit intrusive, undesirable, and time-consuming aspect of life.
In Latin, a person who seeks to become disciplined is identified by the term “discipulus”—in English, a “disciple.”
While all disciples follow another’s guidance or instruction for the purpose of learning something of value, the Latin root of the “discipulus” is “discere” which connotes learning as well as willingly accepting what one is learning as truth. A disciple follows a reputed “Master,” respectfully accepts what’s communicated, learns what it requires, and implements it in one’s conduct. Historically, that’s how the content of encyclopedias as well as the norms, rules, and regulations necessary for orderly membership and conduct within a group or society are communicated to new members or the young. This aspect of discipleship can take the form of a student (in a school), conscript (a draftee into a group), follower (a self-selecting adherent), or citizen (one born into a political system).
Yet, that connotation of the word “discipulus” neglects a second and more important connotation of “discere,” perhaps best translated into English as the infinitive “to discern.”
While a disciple follows another who’s regarded as a “Master,” respectfully accepts what that individual communicates, learns from it, and dutifully implements it in one’s conduct, that aspect of discipleship provides the solid foundation for developing that second connotation: To grasp intellectually what one is learning as well as to analyze it thoroughly and completely. What this discipline requires is critical, if not crucial: A disciple must question and think about what one has learned, to formulate hypotheses, propositions, and theories about it, to test those for their veracity, and to judge whether or not what has been conveyed is objectively true.
That’s the process called “discernment.”
Absent that second connotation of “discipulus,” its first connotation—following another’s instruction, respectfully accepting what’s communicated, learning from it, and implementing it in one’s conduct—is problematic because it can easily devolve into a form of indoctrination and blind adherence to a master and/or doctrine. The danger this devolution of discipleship—and of faith—presents arises periodically in news reports describing cult-like groups and atrocities their leaders generate. Perhaps the most notorious example is Jim Jones who, in 1978, ordered 900 members of the Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana to consume a cyanide-laced drink. The death of Jones’ disciples made the massacre the largest murder-suicide in U.S. history. At the time, many were incredulous, asking “How possibly could they have done it?”
With this bit of etymology as background, it’s important to note that while many “sleepy” Catholics believe they’re “disciples,” this view of discipleship is informed primarily by that first connotation. For these Catholics, knowing and adhering to what the Bible as well as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teach constitutes a “well-formed” disciple. To the degree these “sleepy” Catholics adhere to this body of magisterial teaching—following the rules like good students, conscripts, followers, and citizens—“sleepy” Catholics conclude they’re very good disciples.
Yet, neglecting that second connotation of discipleship—discernment—“sleepy” Catholics are merely conforming themselves to Scripture and Church teaching, following a set of rules and not being transformed by them which would require experiencing a “change of mind” (metanoia). The former is a matter of the power of will—to follow the rules by implementing them as would any ardent student, conscript, follower, or citizen. The latter is a matter of the heart—to discern what it means to embody those rules in every aspect of one’s daily life. These “disciples” seek to “be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” by striving to root out of every nook and cranny of their heart whatever distracts from love of God and neighbor. That’s no easy ambition to accomplish!
Moreover, the former—“sleepy” Catholics—believe a failure to follow the rules provides God a reason to absent Himself from their lives because they’ve “turned their backs on God.” The reality of human fallibility being what it is, it’s understandable how “sleepy” Catholics can come to this conclusion and characterize God as the “Great Absent One” of their lives, having judged themselves unworthy of God’s love. The latter—“WOKE” Catholics—trust in the promise which we all heard on Christmas Eve, “They shall name him ‘Emmanuel,’ which means “God is with us.” Even though “WOKE” Catholics fail in their efforts, they continuously return to God who remains present to and is with them, discerning where, how, and why they have fallen short and redoubling their efforts to become “more perfect” since humility has taught them this important lesson: They aren’t and never will be as perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect.
These distinctions are necessary to appreciate the kind of discipline—the need to discern—that’s the focus of today’s readings...the “narrow way” about which Jesus taught.
For example, in today’s from the Letter to the Hebrews told us not to “disdain the discipline of the Lord” nor are we to “lose heart when reproved by him” because God’s discipline—even “scourging”—arises out of love. We were told to “endure” this paternal form of discipline even though we presently experience it as “a cause not for joy but for pain.” Why endure it? “Later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.”
While many might wish God to remove imperfection in this world, God’s discipline involves allowing imperfect beings who live in an imperfect world to experience imperfection and its fallout. In this crucible, people experience pain, yes. If it’s not caused by people who didn’t do what they should have done or things not working the way they should work and were designed to work, it’s so very easy to allow the fallout experienced from all this imperfection to overwhelm us, leaving us feel frustrated, unhappy, and angry…making us increasingly imperfect.
To remedy this imperfection, “sleepy” Catholics choose to “endure” this pain by strengthening their power of will. Their goal is to “prove” to God they’re becoming perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect…it might be said by “following the rules to receive the reward.” The problem for “sleepy” Catholics is, of course, that they are imperfect creatures and, more likely than not, are going to fail in their resolve…just as so many of them have failed in fulfilling so many of their New Year’s resolutions.
As the Letter to the Hebrews reminded us, it is possible to view the fallout of this imperfection from the perspective of developing greater discipline. It prepares us for that “narrow way.”
Looking to Jesus as their model and exemplar of discipleship, “WOKE” Catholics understand that life in this world oftentimes is a “vale of tears” which, through discernment, provides valuable instruction about how to become more perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect.
Trusting in the promise of Christmas Eve—“They shall name him ‘Emmanuel,’ which means “God is with us”—“WOKE” Catholics attempt to discern what’s objectively true about all that fallout from imperfection. Then, turning to God who is with them, “WOKE” Catholics redouble their efforts to become “more perfect” since they know they aren’t perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect. In this way, “WOKE” Catholics discipline themselves not to allow all this imperfection to overwhelm and lead them to feel frustrated, unhappy, and angry...so they won’t grow increasingly imperfect.
As the Letter to the Hebrews reminded us, “WOKE” Catholics experience the peaceful fruit of righteousness by turning to God and allowing the pain that’s part and parcel of being imperfect beings who live in an imperfect world to train them as disciples for life in God’s kingdom. “No pain, no gain,” it’s said. Walking through the “narrow way” is what Jesus called it.
That’s the kind of discipline Isaiah taught the Israelites whose palpable misery was overwhelming them to the point the Israelites were losing not only faith but also hope. Having sinned egregiously—their nation had fallen and they now were captives in a foreign, pagan land—they were becoming “sleepy” Israelites who believed God had abandoned and left them as spiritual orphans to suffer for their infidelity the remainder of their days on Earth.
Consider the experience of the ancient Israelites: To arise from their slumber and wake their sleep, Isaiah prophesied that the Israelites had to discern the important lesson their pain and suffering was teaching them. What their hearts longed for—the joy of living as God’s Chosen People in the Promised Land—was proof that God continued to be with them despite their infidelity. Having turned away from God, they had to become “WOKE” Israelites which meant developing the discipline needed if they were to experience that for which their hearts longed: To live in freedom as God’s. Chosen People.
The discipline the “sleepy” Israelites needed nearly 2,300 years ago was as important for them if they were to experience one day “the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it” as it is for “sleepy” Catholics today.
Imperfect as they all are and having sinned as they all have, all the imperfection “sleepy” Catholics experience in their lives—at home, school or work, in the neighborhood or grocery store or Walmart or Lowe's parking lot—should awaken the need to discern the source of this frustration—what their hearts truly desire and where that’s to be found. Rather than allowing themselves to become agitated and angry and then to lose faith and hope by concluding all this imperfection is divine retribution for their infidelity, that frustration serves to remind “sleepy” Catholics that it’s time to awake from their slumber and arise from their sleep to turn to God who is with them. The pain that’s part and parcel of being imperfect beings who live in an imperfect world isn’t going to disappear but walking through this “narrow way” will train them to become disciples who enjoy the peaceful fruit of righteousness characterizing life in God’s kingdom.
This discipline—learned through discernment—perfects otherwise imperfect human beings.
How?
In situations where “WOKE” Catholics experience themselves becoming frustrated, unhappy, angry, rather than allowing themselves to become increasingly imperfect, they discipline themselves to turn to God.
If we just take a moment to discern, all the pain that’s part and parcel of being imperfect beings in an imperfect world directs our attention to ourselves and what all that imperfection is causing us to experience. Drawing attention to ourselves, however, we fail to recognize that God is with us, allowing our minds to become increasingly preoccupied with ourselves. Not only does that preoccupation with ourselves increase our misery but it also makes us resentful of those who are the cause of all that misery…thinking of ourselves first and others—including God—last…if at all. In addition, we will discern how that preoccupation with ourselves contradicts what the Master taught in today’s gospel:
For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.
That’s how we gradually become “WOKE” Catholics and it represents this week’s challenge from scripture: To walk the “narrow way” by changing how we think—to engage in a “metanoia”— about the word “discipline.”
The way we will change our minds this week and begin to evidence that metanoia is when we experience frustration—wherever and whenever that may occur—our goal will be to conduct this memento mori: Turn to God in our heart and say “Emmanuel,” focusing upon what the word means, “God is with us.” But, rather than become distracted by the pain, our task is to pray:
Strengthen me, Lord, to overcome my imperfection so it won’t deepen into resentment.
This change of mind—evidencing itself the peaceful fruit of righteousness characterizing life in God’s kingdom—won’t happen miraculously. But, discerning God’s presence in those moments this week—moments that would otherwise lead to increased frustration, unhappiness, and anger which, in turn, would increase our selfish resentment—will gradually help us to embody what Jesus taught in today’s gospel about the “narrow way,” namely, “For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
“I come to gather nations of every language,” Isaiah prophesied of God’s intention in allowing imperfection to discipline us. “Sleepy” Catholics will never fulfill this intention as long as they fail to discern why they have allowed themselves to be distracted by this world’s imperfection and grow increasingly resentful of more and more imperfect human beings.
The Master taught his disciples the antidote to the kind of selfishness evidencing itself in self-pity when everyone around us fails to live up to our expectations—to recall that God is with us. When this discernment and its resulting self-discipline become our way of life and assisted by God’s grace, we will walk through the “narrow way” and enjoy the peaceful fruit of righteousness characterizing life in God’s kingdom.
Given time and practice, this awareness of one’s own and others’ imperfection and not allowing that to divide our families by distracting attention away from one another is how “WOKE” Catholic families experience the fulfillment of the promise made on Christmas Eve: “They shall name him ‘Emmanuel,’ that is, ‘God is with us’.”
“I come to gather nations of every language,” Isaiah prophesied of God’s intention. That goal is achieved brick-by-brick, as each of us lives in the conscious awareness that “God is with us.” As the Letter to the Hebrews reminded us in today’s Epistle:
…do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him…Endure your trials as “discipline.” At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it.
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