26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (28.09.14)<\/p>\n
CHANGING ONE\u2019S MIND<\/strong><\/p>\n Humans are gifted with freedom of choice. All other known animals are controlled by instinct. Do we take our distinguishing gift too much for granted? Do we use this gift as our Creator intended or do we abuse it? Jesus\u2019 parable in this Sunday\u2019s Gospel (Matthew 21:28-32) tells us that the question is as old as human history.<\/p>\n The changing of our minds can be either a conscious or a subconscious activity. No matter the frequency with which we change our minds, it is important to realise that no change can be effected without our consent. We have to be sufficiently aware of the choice we are making for it to happen. A sleepwalker doesn\u2019t consciously choose to sleepwalk. Someone who smokes does consciously choose to smoke even when not every act of picking up and lighting a cigarette is entirely a fully conscious, deliberate decision.<\/p>\n We can change our minds for uncomplicated reasons. For example, as we leave the house it starts to rain. Almost without thinking, as we say, we re-enter the property to pick up an umbrella. Contrastingly, we can be trapped by indecision for months; for example, in the making of a decision about a relationship.<\/p>\n Jesus situates his teaching parable in a snapshot of a living relationship between a father and his sons. It\u2019s an ageless scenario that would likely bring a wry smile to the face of many a parent today.<\/p>\n One question it poses is, do we regularly review our decision-making, the changing of our mind? Since decision-making is a daily, multifaceted activity, it follows that we need to review our decision-making daily.\u00a0 Because the decisions we make, our changes of mind, have both short and long term impact, for good or ill, not only on us but also on those whose lives we touch we have a moral responsibility to engage in such a review.<\/p>\n The twenty-four-seven relentless routine, which entraps so many people, is truly a devilish device because it allows no time for the proper evaluation of our day. The last thing Satan wants is for us to have time to be still and silent and to take stock! Satan\u2019s fear is that were we to do so, we may discover our frenetic lifestyle to be all \u2018smoke and mirrors\u2019, his perilously clever programme for blotting out the call of our conscience.<\/p>\n We need help in forming a good habit \u2013 bad habits, like weeds, are expert at self-seeding! One such, proven help in forming the habit of a daily \u2018stock-take\u2019 is the on-line Jesuit promoted programme <Pray-as-you-Go.org>. There you will discover \u2018The Examen\u2019. It\u2019s five steps \u2013 Thanksgiving, Seeking Light, Looking Back, Contrition, Asking God\u2019s Help For The Future \u2013 form what beneficially becomes, through practice, a supportive pathway linked by reflective music. Originating, in this format, with St. Ignatius of Loyola for himself and his fellow Jesuits, it is now widely in use.<\/p>\n Most people have learnt that hindsight has value. The process may not always be comfortable particularly when we find ourselves being challenged by previous changes of mind that had been inadequately assessed or where we had ignored the call of conscience. \u2018The Examen\u2019 allows us to reflect on our day by asking Jesus to let us see, through his eyes, how we have exercised his gift of free will. The Examen is not only a pathway to healing but also to a recuperative restoration where conscience can be clearly heard.<\/p>\n In the Gospel extract Jesus doesn\u2019t explain what caused the first son to review his initial decision. Might it have been a lingering remembrance and appreciation of his father\u2019s unspoken love, or the tenor of his voice or the look in his eyes? Might it have been a momentary recollection of the fourth Commandment, \u201cHonour your father and your mother.\u201d<\/em> (Exodus 20: 2-17) Whatever the cause, that first son reconsidered and, as a result, fulfilled his father\u2019s will. Maybe even the second son had a change of heart, the parable doesn\u2019t tell us. It\u2019s paradoxical that 21st<\/sup> century developed nations invest incredible resources in body and mind healthcare but almost nothing in authentic spiritual healthcare.<\/p>\n With spiritually assisted hindsight it is possible to capture revealing awareness of the past where we have yet to acknowledge our failures and seek forgiveness. The Examen is not limited to the previous twenty-four hours. The Examen process enables us to make our peace with the deceased as well as the living. In the \u2018Our Father\u2019 we pray: \u201cforgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us\u201d.<\/p>\n By learning or rediscovering the value of silence and stillness and practising it regularly, we too may catch appropriate remembrances of the unconditional love our heavenly Father has for us through his Word made Flesh, Jesus. With the assistance of the Holy Spirit we may come to change our mind bringing blessings to others as well as ourselves<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time (28.09.14) CHANGING ONE\u2019S MIND Humans are gifted with freedom of choice. All other known animals are controlled by instinct. Do we take our distinguishing gift too much for granted? Do we use this gift as … Continue reading