There are times along the way when adjustments need to be made. Life doesn’t always go according to perfect order, so let’s stop treating this world like it’s supposed to be heaven when it isn’t, and be ready to make adjustments for the times when our blueprint gets upended.
I was planning on the Red Sox sweeping the Yankees this past week. That didn’t happen. I was planning on retiring from UPS one day with a nice pension. That obviously didn’t happen. So instead of a secure, earthly pension that would take me up to the date of my death and care for my personal needs, now I’m forced to live according to the words, “Your reward will be great in heaven.” Which, of course, is the much greater pension.
Adjustments are part of life for a couple reasons. First, people mess up all the time. It’s called human weakness. Even the best doctors in the world can fall short occasionally. Our perfect thoughts don’t always compute to perfect results. Far from it most of the time. And second, making adjustments reveals a certain character, a healthy level of spiritual maturity in the midst of brokenness, trial, in the midst of the unexpected. Even Jesus realizes this basic truth of our nature in the holy and prayerful Gospel today, as well as Peter’s leadership actions in the first reading.
First, Peter. There is an unexpected absence among them. His name was Judas Iscariot. Judas messed up big time. The number for the full quota of Apostles is 12. Presently, there’s 11. Peter takes charge as Jesus told him to, being his rock on earth, gathers everyone together on a sunny Sunday afternoon for an apostolic conference, leads them in prayer, and says, “We need to make an adjustment and fill the quota. We need a 12th Apostle to replace Judas.”
This entire scene in the first reading was an unexpected adjustment. Nowhere does Jesus instruct them to do this after he ascended to his rightful place in glory. The initiative on the part of Peter is through the Spirit moving him to address this unexpected issue. Which tells us two things; make room for the Spirit in shaky times, most notably through a devoted prayer life, and, be willing to take the initiative when quotas are in need of being filled in our lives. Spiritual quotas.
There’s no need for us to remain minus one necessary spiritual part of our faith journey. Judas can be replaced in our lives. Today, the absence of Judas represents those who have no faith in God, and live according to the morally bankrupt and godless ways of our society. We never have to be minus one, because the Lord is overflowing and generous, always ready to fill us back up. Sometimes that will take patience. Even in illness, he will give us what is holy and good. Take the initiative like Peter when adjustments are needed, and Christ will fill you up.
And in the Gospel, in this holy prayer of protection spoken by the Lord, even the Master knows that adjustments will be needed throughout the life of the Church until he returns. Even though Jesus was never weak himself, he knows our nature and the ways of a broken world. Which is why he prays; “They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world.” They don’t belong to brokenness. Brokenness is not the final statement for us with Christ. They belong to fulfillment and the full quota. Even in the midst of persecution, imprisonment, and beatings, they will be filled with what they need to overcome the world’s violence if they don’t lose heart and remain faithful to Christ.
Our Lord also knows they need protection from the evil one. This is better called preventive medicine, preventive adjustment from heaven. Jesus prays that they do not turn into another Judas. The heart of Judas was stolen by the evil one, and he cooperated with it. This has not disappeared from our present times, especially in the area of respecting human life from conception to natural death. The pitchfork man is constantly trying to stick his poisonous needle into the hearts of those who cooperate in the callous destruction of human life, thinking they are doing something good, when in fact they cooperate with evil, imitating Judas.
Jesus protects his Apostles from further spiritual erosion in this heartfelt prayer. He prays the same prayer for us. That our hearts and actions will be devoted to him, one with him, and him alone. Welcome into your life the living truth that Jesus prays for you in heaven. And, that he provides this spiritual protection in our reception of his body and blood, the most explicit spiritual protection we are offered in this life.
Always be ready to make adjustments. Out there in the world, yes, whatever comes our way. But more importantly spiritual adjustments that place full trust in him who is raised from the dead.
“Jesus, I trust in you.” Divine Mercy. That’s what our adjustment looks like, thanks be to God.