Being a Catholic Christian doesn’t mean we are automatically saved or know better than others when it comes to doing God’s work. On the contrary, we need to work harder to avoid the sin of being judgmental that ruins a person. Though God welcomes those baptized into the Catholic Church, He also expects that we will live up to the promise we make of loving both Him and all that He is created as Jesus loves us. Without that, we risk loss of the Holy Spirit and the ability to serve those who are in need as defined by Christ.
In the Rite of Baptism, following the actual Baptism with blessed holy water of a person into the Catholic faith, there is an anointing on the crown of each person’s head with sacred chrism oil. It signifies salvation with an accompanying prayer in part that reads: “As Christ was anointed Priest, Prophet and King, so may you live always as members of His body, sharing everlasting life.”
This, in essence, confirms that the baptized person is in full relationship with Jesus, the Christ, in all he or she thinks, says and does. With adults, they can say “Amen” (So Be It) at the end of the prayer or with children, their parents and godparents can respond on their behalf. It also gives credence to Jesus’ quote in St. Mark’s Gospel today when He says: “Whoever is not against us is for us.”
However, it is in the Gospel and first reading that we get an inkling of how in our pride as being called we can go astray of God’s teachings. The Apostle St. John takes umbrage with a non-disciple exorcising someone of demons, even though exorcisms can only be done through God. His complaint comes from being both judgmental about his being called by Jesus into the inner circle of Apostles and not believing the person performing the miracle is worthy.
In our first reading from The Book of Numbers God picked 70 elders to be filled with the Holy Spirit to not only assist Moses in ministry to the people on their way to the Promised Land, but work by prophesying in the camp. Two who were not in the tent where the Ark of God was kept when this gift was bestowed, also became activated but were ostracized by Joshua, Moses’ student and successor, because they were missing in action, so to speak. Moses, on the other hand, welcomed them when he said: “Would that the Lord might bestow His spirit on them all!” Joshua, like St. John in the Gospel, forgot the reason why he was called by God
God can and does use anyone to do His work. How many stories have we heard, read or experienced about people being helped by both Christians and non-Christians. No faith has a monopoly on God’s work, truth, love or power to heal and reconcile. One does not even need to be baptized into a faith to do God’s work. Belonging to a faith provides us with both a support system and multiple tools to take the correct path along our journey of life; hopefully to a life beyond our earthly one which offers us nothing past the years we live in the flesh.
Our purpose in life is to understand why God created us. By doing so, we can then begin to fulfill the reason by using our God-given talents and gifts to reach out to those in need. In other words, we become the servant that Jesus became when He was on earth to be there for the poor, hungry, homeless, orphans, widows, incarcerated, sick, dying, impoverished, marginalized and disenfranchised.
St. James Letter offers us an inside view to those who seek wealth, power and fame for themselves rather than sharing all they have with those in need. By doing so, they have condemned themselves for all eternity. These are the ones who are against God and all who follow Him. Their only hope is to change and convert to a new life that is totally opposite of what they practice and in which they believe.
Let us take this week to look deep into our heart and soul about how we view others and our intentions in regards to them. Do we judge them because we believe the decisions they make are contrary to what we believe is sensible or is opposite of our path? Do we attempt to look at what causes them to do something that seems so foreign to us? Are we open to reaching out by encouraging them so seek peace which can bring joy and a path to a positive mental attitude of selflessness versus selfishness?
As disciples, we need to be self-critical. We are held to a higher purpose because we have accepted Jesus into our heart, soul, mind and strength. By our participation in Godly matters, we need to focus on all the positive ways to support God’s plan for us versus the worlds. It is by doing so that we become Priest, Prophet and King as members of His body and sharing in everlasting life.
Reading 1: Numbers 11: 25-29
Reading 2: James 5: 1-6
Gospel: Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48
No comments:
Post a Comment