Connection Reflection

A Reflection on the First Reading for November 3rd, 2019:
Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

WISDOM 11:22-12:2

The whole world before you, O Lord,
Is like a speck that tips the scales,
And like a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground.
But you are merciful to all,
For you can do all things,
And you overlook people’s sins,
So that they might repent.
Lord, you love all things that exist,
And detest none of the things that you have made,
For you would not have made anything if you had hated it.
How would anything have endured
If you had not willed it?
Or how would anything not called forth by you
Have been preserved?
You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord,
You who love the living.
For your immortal spirit is in all things.
Therefore you correct little by little those who trespass,
And you remind and warn them of the things through which they sin,
So that they may be freed from wickedness
And put their trust in you, O Lord.

---

According to researcher and social worker Brené Brown, our “reason for living and existing” is “connection”. From a secular and social science perspective, connection “brings purpose and meaning to our lives”. As a science major, I agree – humans are undoubtedly hardwired for relationship, particularly according to what we know about biology and psychology.


I also agree as a Catholic, and I perceive “connection” as the equivalent of “communion”. But my faith leads me to look beyond human relationships, as they never fully satisfy. We are made to be connected to, in communion with, God. This is the crux of St. Augustine’s famous quote from his confessions, “You have made us for yourself, Oh Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you”. We know as Catholics that we are separated, that our relationship is broken by sin.


Brown describes some of the effects of sin by addressing shame. All healthy human beings experience shame to some degree throughout their lives. Shame is “the fear of disconnect… the belief that I am bad… that I am a mistake”. “Shame”, Brené explains, “unravels connection. [We ask the question,] is there something about me, that if other people know it or see it, that [will mean that] I won’t be worthy of connection?”


The author of Wisdom knows shame but they present truths and ask beautiful questions that undermine the lies that shame tries to offer us.


“For you would not have made anything if you had hated it.
How would anything have endured
If you had not willed it?”


When that little accusatory voice tries to say to us, “God hates you. You are a mistake”, let these verses be our sword. They remind us that God, who is all-powerful and outside of time, knew the choices we and our ancestors would make… the choices we will make and that our descendants will make. He knows all – He sees our hearts right now. And He lovingly willed us into existence, willingly loves us, actively invites us into relationship with Him. His mercy and love are revealed simply in our being.

"For us to experience connection we must allow ourselves to be seen – we must be vulnerable."

Tweet

For us to experience connection we must allow ourselves to be seen – we must be vulnerable. Brown’s research leads her to discover that it is vulnerability that unlocks creativity and gives us the capacity to love and lead and essentially live full lives. It is incredibly uncomfortable, sometimes unbearably risky. However, to be vulnerable is to be courageous and be willingly known.


What should allow us to do this with God is His assurance that He “loves all things that exists” and that He wants us to be “freed” and to “put our trust” in Him. 


The greatest example of vulnerability that Christ gives us is on the cross – where He takes on all our shame, and casts aside all fear of disconnect to make full communion with Him possible. There is no fear in love, and because of the cross there is no need for shame. ​


Kendra Lang

---