Reflection for Sunday – July 26, 2020
Readings: 1 Kings 3: 5, 7-12; Romans 8: 28-30; Matthew 13: 44-52
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Preacher: Teryle Watson
The Old Testament reading today is rich and timely. In 1 Kings , God appears to Solomon in a dream. God promises to grant any wish that Solomon desires. Solomon asks for two things: an understanding heart so that he might rightly judge the people of God and the wisdom to distinguish right from wrong.
In this challenging time of worldwide pandemic, political unrest, racial tension and spiritual confusion I am called to examine my thoughts and actions in terms of the gifts given to Solomon. All human beings are the recipients of the powerful gifts of radical love and Godly discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
One of my favorite spirituals begins with, “Over my head, I hear music in the air.” That music is the constant murmur of the Voice of God within our souls. As an African American “cradle” Catholic, I walk in the footsteps of my lineage. Through the centuries my ancestors have participated in the work of reconciling the Gospel message of liberation with the horrendous reality of Black oppression and suffering.
The old spiritual, “Wade in the Water,” speaks to the healing, cleansing and “troubling” presence of God. God steps right into the mud of our lives and troubles it until we are in clear springs. This is the Wisdom of God in action. One of our newest saints, Congressman John Lewis, the civil rights icon, always exhorted his followers to embrace the righteousness of “good trouble” as a transformative response to the evils of society. “Good trouble” builds the City of God.
True to form, God approaches Solomon in a dream. Our Creator knows that we hear best when not distracted with earthly concerns. I need this reminder to create an atmosphere that allows me to hear, accept and respond to the Word. The Year 2020 has been wrought with challenges. It has also called us to dream, pray and listen.
Humility is a mandate for the reception of the Word. We must be willing to be subject to the loving will of God. To seize the challenge and delight in the Ignatian Suscipe demands vulnerability. I posture myself with these words from a gospel song. “Lord, I’m available to you. My will I give to you. I’ll do what you say. Use me, Lord. My storage is empty and I am available to you.”
Love is the greatest liberator but it is birthed only through the greatest sacrifice and deepest fidelity. The Fiat of Mary and the Sacrifice of our Redeemer invite all of creation into the dance of a fruitful temporal life and entrance to the ecstasy of Eternal Life. I pray these words each day. They come from the gospel song, “Order My Steps.”
Order my steps in Your Word
Order my tongue in Your Word
Wash my heart in Your Word
Guide my feet in your Word
Show me how to walk in Your Word
Show me how to talk in Your Word
When I need a brand new song to sing, show me how to let Your praises ring in Your Word.
Please, order my steps in Your Word.
African Americans have survived the conflict of the Promises of God and the treacherous reality of Earth through spontaneous prayer and song. The wood of the cradle and cross are emblazoned deep within our hearts.
Our good and gracious God judges with gentleness and equality. When we digress or fail, the Potter restores. As an African American mother of four cherished sons I fear daily for their lives. We are an endangered species in the eyes of too many law enforcement officers and agencies. My sons have been followed, blamed without cause and in one instance placed in mortal danger by a storeowner.
Imagine going out for dinner the evening before major surgery. I was anointed after morning Mass at Saint Augustine’s. My beloved husband Bill gently wept as this was potentially serious. Later that morning we dropped off laundry and dry cleaning that we would pick up before heading out to dinner that evening. My four sons and husband were dressed in suits and ties. My husband and I remained in the car as my sons got out to pick up the clothing. Suddenly my husband and I heard a big commotion and witnessed people running out of the laundry as well as our sons. We heard a woman scream, “they have guns.” To our horror we realized that she was referring to our sons, who were terrified. My husband approached the owner and asked what was going on. The response was that she was frightened when she saw four African American males enter at once and they were not smiling. My husband asked the age-old question, “How much longer do we have to grin and tap dance for you?” This is the constant war of the Gospel message upon the cancer of fear and hate. I cleave to the promises of justice but move through the world with great caution.
There is conflict with God’s Word, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and the curious mixture of the Evangelical Right and too many who hold ecclesiastic office. The Word of God clearly tells me that all life is sacred and that it is our Holy obligation to respect one another from cradle to grave. The pro-life movement has members who claim that the occupant of White House is the greatest pro-life president ever. That confuses me as I never thought that the death penalty, mocking the marginalized, bullying the poor and sexual improprieties were pro-life. All life must be honored and justice should be equal and restorative. We must make prudent choices when the opportunity to vote comes in November. Strange alliances have formed. Order our steps, dear Lord.
So many of the sorrows of life, the ism’s of life, could be eliminated if we had the 20/20 vision of God. I like to refer to this process as intentional intimacy, or, in the words of several authors, “into-me-see.” In Jeremiah 1:5 we read, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born I consecrated you a Prophet to the nations.” The incredible relationship that we share with our Creator starts before birth and comes with a unique mission that is individually designed!
She is a “Cradle Catholic” whose family represents almost all of the world's religions. Her parents, both converts, instilled in her a deep love for her faith and the liturgy of the church. She was raised in a magnificent parish in Harlem, New York, the Church of the Resurrection.
She is a former member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Rochester and credits“these incredible women” with allowing “my faith journey to blossom.”
As a performer and music educator, her greatest happiness came as a music teacher for 32 years in the Rochester City School District.She has also served as a liturgical musician at Saint Philip Neri Church, Blessed Sacrament Church, Corpus Christi, Saint Augustine’s, Our Lady of Victory, Immaculate Conception and Memorial AME Zion Church. She was a member of the Diocesan Womens Commission, the Music Commission and has served the Office of Black Catholics and the Synod for the Diocese of Rochester.
She and her husband, William Watson, have nine children, 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. She will complete her circle of life on November 8 when she makes her commitment as an Associate Member of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.
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Teryle thank you so much for your words. Reading this, and knowing you, your boys and husband i was brought to tears. . We need to hear more of the voices from people who have endured so much yet remain faithful. God bless you.