20 July 2014
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Many of us probably know those who have mastered the art of groaning, that is, “voicing a deep, wordless, prolonged sound expressive of pain, grief, annoyance or disapproval.”* The term certainly covers a lot of emotional territory!
In his Letter to the Romans, Paul captures our imagination when he speaks today of the Spirit’s “groaning” and (last week) of creation’s “groaning.” Is there a connection between these two “groanings”?Paul’s groaning suggests the cry of a woman in labor, a time of intense pain coupled with the anticipation of extreme joy. In this regard Paul tells us that creation groans as it moves toward and eagerly awaits its fulfillment in Christ. Creation groans with an incompleteness that knows suffering, pain and sin. And creation groans in anticipation of joy in the promise of salvation and eternal life: a return its original wholeness, a rebirth in Christ Jesus.
Paul similarly recognizes the groaning of the Spirit within our own prayer as we anticipate the fulfillment of our inner hopes and thoughts. In today’s reading we are comforted with the knowledge that when we do not know how to pray as we ought, “the Spirit … intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” Just knowing that the Spirit groans along with us as our hearts stand speechless and helpless brings us a tiny sense of what we expect, in faith, for ourselves: our own ultimate perfection at the end of all things.The Spirit makes intercession before God for us and for all of creation! Halleluia! And every day, God also wants us to join in too.
*from the American Heritage Dictionary, 1985
The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.
