Memorial of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin
In today’s first reading, we have the story of Isaiah’s call to be a prophet of God. Initially while standing before God’s glory Isaiah is terrified, for Jews held that to the see God would lead to one’s death. In the same vein, he is terrified because he, unlike the seraphim singing God’s praises, lives “among a people of unclean lips” (Is 6:4) and is therefore not worthy to proclaim such praise before God. What does God do? He has a seraph cleanse his lips, making him worthy. Notice, too, that Isaiah shifts from utter terror before God to courage, laying his service at God’s feet (Is 6:8).
God has shown Isaiah that he is worthy to be his prophet and Isaiah responds with confidence. It is not God’s majesty and power that has been minimized, but rather Isaiah’s who has been made worthy.
Today’s gospel continues with the instructions that Jesus gives to His disciples precisely about how to be disciples. He knows that proclaiming the Kingdom of God, with its radical message of exalting the lowly over the powerful and living in selfless love of God and one another, will be met with some resistance (particularly from the rich and powerful!). Yet, Jesus assures his disciples that we are most worthy in God’s eyes and therefore should not be afraid. Rather we should be courageous to live as disciples precisely because, like Isaiah, God has chosen us. This charge from God comes with the assurance that He deals with us most intimately and most carefully, counting even the hairs on our head!
We see, then, in today’s readings that fear is a primary obstacle to serving God. Maybe a fear of unworthiness. Maybe a fear of rejection. Maybe a fear of foreign places. Maybe a fear of poverty. Maybe a fear of homelessness. Maybe a fear of death. God tells us time and again to leave these fears behind. Why? Not because we are careless or foolhardy. Not even because we want to become more “self-actualized.” Rather, because God is more powerful than all of those things; He even conquered death on a cross. And this supremely powerful God cares for us. This is the source of Christian courage.
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, whose memorial we celebrate today, was renowned for her courage. Her conversion to Christianity cost her much among the Mohawk tribe to whom she had been given as a wife. She was treated as a slave because of her conversion and at 23 took a vow of virginity—an act that jeopardized her life in a culture that women knew their place as wives.
Today, then, let us reflect on those fears that keep us from fully living as disciples and choose one small way in which we can, with God’s help, begin to overcome it. Maybe we take that walk we’ve been afraid to take. Maybe we talk to someone on the street whom we’d rather look past. Maybe we discuss the death of a loved one which has been particularly difficult to discuss. Maybe we find a way to approach someone against whom we’ve held a grudge. Let this be our way of proclaiming “The Lord is king!” (Ps 93:1a)
- Tim Gabrielli