"Whoever receives you receives me . . . receives the one who sent me."
(James Tissot)
The Word for Sunday: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/070217.cfm
Likely
most of you have noticed more and more advertising for various companies which
promise to test your DNA and your ancestral code in order to discover things
about your past family connections you may have never known. One add has a young man stating that he was
surprised to discover, according to his DNA, that his lineage was not majority
Italian but rather also contained a significant percentage of Irish . By another, you may discover you have more
DNA from Eastern Europe rather than from the Scandinavian Countries. You may even uncover the fact that you are
connected to one of our founding Fathers or some royal lineage you were unaware
of. It all makes for some intriguing
connections that tie us together as a human family. Such information may be helpful to some
extent by connecting to distant relatives or it just may help us to feel less
isolated and expand the blood line of our family descendants. Once we discover these things, we would
rarely want to hide them, unless you discover one of your ancestors was
involved in some sort of shady behavior perhaps.
However,
in our Gospel this Sunday, Jesus makes a statement that is somewhat harsh and
may seem dismissive of such important family connections: “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me . . .” What
about the importance of family life? Then he adds to the demand: “. . . whoever does not take up his cross
and follow after me is not worthy of me . . .” The audience to whom Jesus
spoke would have been more than mildly disturbed for family was everything in
ancient times. This is why the parable of the prodigal son was so shocking since no Jewish son would ever treat his living father in that manner.
Yet, while
blood lines and family relationships are important, after all Jesus himself was
born to loving parents and grew up in a family, the demands of discipleship are
essentially at play here; likewise, the
measure of our loyalty to Jesus. Do we
follow him only when things are easy and comfortable or can we remain loyal as
we share in his cross and the personal sacrifices demanded by our Christian way
of life? As he prepares his disciples for mission he asks they weigh the level
of their commitment to him and his Gospel.
What we
hear from our Lord this Sunday is that to be a true Christian, we must think
beyond the limits which life imposes. We
would never be asked to renounce our family ties but the demand of Christian
love and sacrifice must go beyond the familiar and comfortable. The mission of the Church may demand somewhat
of a physical detachment from family members or a re-prioritizing of our own
lives beyond what is easy. The Gospel
must be preached to all and not just to those who agree with us. Called as missionary disciples we are
challenged to become witnesses to Christ in this world and there may be times
that even our own family members disagree with us. Can we still be loyal to the truth which
Christ has revealed to us?
It's interesting that we often hear from those in the RCIA process for example, that family members of those who seek to be baptized and in full communion with the Catholic Church do not understand their choice and in some cases may outright strongly disagree with their embrace of “those Catholics.” It may even be a spouse who is uncomfortable or a son or daughter who wants nothing to do with Catholics. It’s tough, of course, and somewhat hurtful. Yet called to loyalty we are invited to seek the grace to be faithful members and followers of Christ and his Church.
For example,
in the world of Church ministry, we hear of something called “agency.” One
great example of this would be those who work as the parish staff or school
staff. In other words, as we work
together for the common good of all, we have to recognize as a “team” that we
cannot all represent ourselves and our own personal interests. For things to go well a common goal is
identified; a kind of purpose, what we hope to accomplish through our
efforts. So, we collaborate together, each
according to his ability and experience, for the same common goal. Likewise we decide whose “agent” we are – who
do I speak for and who or what do I represent?
In the end
we are essentially agents of Jesus Christ and his Church. When we decide on programs, ministries, how we
do things collaboratively, we all keep in mind the same common purpose: to be
agents of Christ in the world and to bring others to his Church: to announce
the Gospel in a way that is welcoming and attractive. In order to do this, I hear Christ inviting all
of us to check our loyalties today.
In
addition, we all who were “baptized into
Christ,” as St. Paul speaks today, live a new life in him. And the demands
of that life mean that what he asks of his disciples today, he asks of us as
well. Will you be my agent in the world?
Can you put all other loves and attachments as less than your focus on me? This
is not a demand that we leave our families behind but rather a challenge to
make our position as his agents in the world, the framework by which we measure
what we do. This kind of commitment to Christ and the Gospel, and by that to
his Church, is a very real thing for many. Sometimes, it is particularly
difficult at first.
So the
readings, particularly our Gospel this Sunday, are not to disturb us but to
remind us that as a Christian I can’t be simply lukewarm or wishy washy. Faith is more than a title only but a
profound life changing choice to follow the Lord who should be the center of my
spiritual life.
As true
agents of Christ, our Lord promises that our loyalty will be returned
generously. “Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives the
one who sent me . . .”
Our first
reading from Kings, shares the great blessing received by the woman who had
consistently shown the prophet Elisha hospitality. Elisha was the prophet of God, the agent of
God for whom he spoke, the woman welcomed him, and received the blessing of a
child in her future.
So, I may
ask myself about where I stand in the measure of importance with the things of God
and my spiritual loyalties. Do I treat
my faith as if it was a hobby or a life time commitment? Am I hungry to learn
more or simply satisfied with what I know?
Is “Catholic” the Church I attend or the way I see myself in the world? Do
I find myself behaving very “Christian” in public or when I attend Mass yet
during the week I fall back into old patterns that are more harmful or
certainly not productive for my faith life?
Am I simply a Sunday Catholic or do I allow the Gospel to frame the kind
of person I am? When my faith is
challenged do I really stand up and be counted or do I hide in the safety of
the shadows?
Our Lord
asks a great deal of those who believe in him.
We may feel at times that Catholicism and the Christian faith need to “loosen
up” a bit. Yet, Jesus’ words in the
Gospel are still timely for us: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find
it.”
Our gathering
to share in the Body and Blood of Christ is to receive a great act of love from
the One who calls us to join his winning side as it were. To follow Christ is to make a conscious
decision which means that other priorities have to be measured against the
Gospel. Still, after receiving so much from him how can we offer any less?
“Go, and
announce the Gospel of the Lord.”
Suscipe
Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory,
my understanding, and my entire will,
all I have and call my own.
Whatever I have or hold you have given me.
I return it all to you and surrender it wholly
to be governed by your will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
and I am rich enough and ask for nothing more.
- St. Ignatius of Loyola (16th Century)
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