Friday, 3rd Week of Advent

Zechariah 7:8-8:8
The Daily Office

The Lectionary reading starts at 7:8. But I included the first seven verses of chapter 7 to give context to God's call for justice in verses 8-10. Sometimes in the "church world," a debate breaks out over which is more important: the inner life of the spirit or the outward actions of service and spreading the Good News? Is it more important to focus on one's heart and soul through prayer and fasting? Or is it more important to do works of Outreach that actually help other people?

Of course, the answer is both. But it is also true that some are more called to one spiritual discipline or the other, fasting and spiritual preparation or justice and service. I confess that I'm more drawn to the life of prayer and worship. But my fasting and my prayer and beautiful worship are meaningless id they do not nourish and prepare me for the work of ministry. At the same time, works of justice risk becoming mere political agitation if they are not grounded in the One who alone is just and makes true justice possible. And Outreach risks becoming busy work if we lose sight of the fact that in truth, we aren't doing anything on our own, but are channels through which God's grace flows.

In the Cursillo community, Piety and Action are both crucial to a full spiritual life. We need to reacquaint ourselves with the reality of a God who is beyond all human thought and action, yet makes himself available to us in the quiet spaces of our lives. And that relationship with God must be shared with others in concrete actions. And when we see God at work, not just in our hearts, but in the world around us, our joy in God can only be magnified. Hallelujah!