MY WAY

Almost fifty years ago, Frank Sinatra released “My Way.” It’s a song as familiar as any national anthem, the opening lines stamped into our cultural consciousness: “And now, the end is near; and so, I face the final curtain...” The song started life as a rather gloomy number called “Comme d’Habitude” (As Usual) by French singer Claude Francois in 1967 about the end of a love affair. Singer Paul Anka, while not fond of the song, felt there was something different in it and acquired the rights for free.

Back in New York, Anka couldn’t find the inspiration he needed to make something of the tune. Until one day, he received a phone call from Frank Sinatra. The pair went out to dinner and Frank dropped a bombshell. Sinatra said, “I’m quitting the business. I’m sick of it, I’m getting the hell out.” This was all the motivation Anka need to write and he knew only Sinatra would have the swagger necessary to give the song its full power. Only Sinatra had the moral authority to deliver the line: “The record shows I took the blows and did it my way.”[1] Did you know this is the #1 requested karaoke song in the world and it is a very popular funeral song.

Can you hear the King of Assyria singing this tune as he triumphed over Judah? It was God who sent the Assyrians to teach the Israelites a lesson and they overstepped their bounds by acting selfishly and ignoring God’s will. Does this sound familiar?

Perhaps God is warning us about the proper use of the gifts He has given us. We can often lose track of knowing where our talents come from and believing God has nothing to do with our successes. When we misuse the power and gifts God gives us, we can expect trouble. I’ve recruited and worked with a variety of leaders in my careers in the military, not-for-profits and even in ministry. The single biggest challenge for many of these leaders is they say and believe, “By my own power I have done it…” (Is 10:13) they are singing, “I did it my way.” We leaders sometimes forget where our power, gifts and wisdom truly come.

Jesus uses children as an example of a great disciple. Think of the wisdom questions that often come from a young child. Questions that stump and defy understanding of those considered to be wise. Jesus is pointing out that great faith depends on seeing God as the source of all things.

God is teaching us to embrace our life’s mission with childlike innocence and obedience. God’s help and power are always there, if we simply follow His will and remember He is the giver of all good gifts. Let us pray to be an authentic child of God and do it God's way.

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[1] EXPRESS, “My Way: The story behind the song.” https://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/91687/My-way-The-story-behind-the-song

THE RULE

St. Benedict’s Rule for monastic living has been soul inspiring and formative for countless numbers of persons who have lived as monks, nuns, priests, deacons, teachers, parish workers, seekers of holiness, and so many others. It’s been a guidebook on the path of Christian discipleship but also helpful to all people desiring to live a good life, one that contributes to our global community. Which always involves the realization that any vocation, to which we are called by God, is one of service, love, and obedience to the Lord. St. Benedict’s Rule seems, in its first appearance, to be rather simple to understand and follow. It is all that, of course, but looking at it with any kind of perceptive depth quickly reveals that so much more is present.[1]

This is also how it was in the beginning with God. It starts out so very simple: Adam is told by God, “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden…”(Gen 2:16) except that one, the one right there in the center of the garden. The tree of knowledge. Simple enough, yet there is so much more depth to this rule as Adam discovers when he was disobedient. So, it is also with the nation of Israel. God clearly outlines his covenant with them. It starts out easy enough with Moses, “keep my commandments” (Ex 20:2-17, Dt 5:6-22) all ten of them and the nation will prosper, and so it did. The problem often times is as humans once we become successful, we also tend to become forgetful. Forgetful of who is really the deliverer, the protector, the gift bearer, who is really God.  The verses omitted from today’s reading describe Israel’s sins and God’s punishment. Let’s just say, much like Adam, the Nation of Israel learned the consequences for forgetting “the rule.”

In the Gospel, the disciples are sent out, just as we are sent out, into the world with specific instructions to proclaim, “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 10:7)

How will the world know we are speaking the Truth? By witnessing to the #1 Rule: LOVE. This is the greatest commandment … “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Mt 22:37, 39) Do you want your proclamation to be believable? Be a witness to the depth of the love of Jesus. If you are still confused and unsure what this true love is because of the misguided definition of love our society witnesses to, allow yourself to enter deeply into the Eucharistic feast. Hear the love language in the prayers, comprehend the unfathomable depth of Jesus’ love for us and how he gave everything for our salvation. Then go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life, witnessing to the rule of love.

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[1] Introduction to Study the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict and Abbot Philip Lawrence’s accompanying commentary." https://christdesert.org/prayer/rule-of-st-benedict/