Crock Pot Spirituality

Both of today’s readings explore some of the more destructive parts of human interactions. In the first reading from Genesis, we’re hearing about Joseph (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat – that Joseph).  Joseph’s father Israel loved Joseph the best and Joseph’s brothers were jealous and angry. So they end up throwing him in an empty water cistern and ultimately sell him to a caravan of people for 20 silver pieces.

I know that many people can relate to the pain of being rejected and treated so poorly by family.

In the gospel from Matthew, Jesus tells a parable about a landowner who goes away and then sends a series of messengers (including his son) to the laborers on the farm. The farm hands harm everyone, ultimately killing the owner’s son.

Again, we might be able to relate to the anguish of loss and mistreatment at the hands of others.

For me these readings help me focus on the need for our own inner work – especially with difficult emotions like anger and jealousy.  These emotions have the power to drive some very toxic behaviors and thus require serious attention.

I don’t know about you, but I can so easily get tipped over emotionally by such petty stuff.

It could be someone else’s success or opportunity that I didn’t get (and want).

It could be a perceived slight or disrespect that I react to.

It could be that I just decided that I don’t really like someone and refuse to let in any new information about who they are.

And the list goes on!

How do we bring healing to those parts of us?

Generally, it is a slow process. I often think of the inner work we need to do as “crock pot spirituality” (as opposed to a frying pan, for example).  We put in these various ingredients and need to wait while the crock pot does its work.  Sometimes it can look like nothing is happening. But after a while we start to recognize the results. We just need to stay with the process and keep working.

For today, hone in on a difficult emotion in your life. It may be a hatred, a jealousy a betrayal or an anger.  That hatred, jealousy or anger might have a very good reason for being there, yet there also may be a toxicity to its presence in your life. The goal for today is just to let it in, sit with it and try to let it soften a bit so that it does not drive our behavior (or drive it as much). Be patient with yourself and let God speak to you about it. Breathe. Release. Repeat.