Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Scripture Readings

Although there are so many struggles that we face today, one of the things that brings me the greatest sorrow is the amount of division in our world and even our church.  This polarization and at times malice accosts you at every turn. As Christians, Jesus calls us to become one in Him. If we could see one another as equals- fellow children of God- we could work together to address the many problems plaguing our world.

In the first reading, St. Paul reminds us that we have been clothed in Christ.  No longer is there a separation of Jew, Greek, slave or free person, male or female- “You are all one in Christ Jesus.”   St. Paul preaches that our belief in Jesus brings us all together, since we are all coming from a common foundation.  The external appearances that we create in our society become insignificant, since all that is visible is Christ as we live according to His word. 

Jesus tells the crowd in today’s gospel that those who “who hear the word of God and observe it” are the ones who are “blessed.”  Jesus reminds his listeners that it is important to listen to his words, but they must also follow through by imitating Jesus in the way that they live.  It is in the way that people speak and act that they “clothe themselves in Christ” so that other people can see Christ in them.  

St. Paul gives instructions about how to become “one in Christ Jesus,” but we have little details about how the early Christian community put this into action.  There are scripture stories that talk about how they shared all of their possessions with one another.  Men and women worked together in leadership roles (there were even women deacons in these early days!) The Spirit was alive and drawing the community to be of “one mind and one heart.”  And yet I am sure that they had struggles as they tried to live out this calling. 

How can we even begin to address the call to be “one in Christ” in our current world? Both Jesus and St. Paul give us guidance.  Jesus reminds us that we must listen to His words, and then we must act on them.  As we read the scripture and reflect on the life of Jesus, time after time we see Jesus showing mercy, compassion and love to others- those who are the outcast of society, and even those who are putting him to death. He uses love and forgiveness as a means to draw others to Him and the Father. 

St. Paul reminds us that we are “clothed in Christ.”  The challenge for us is to seek and find Christ in the “other.”  This is difficult when that other person has a different political viewpoint, a different lifestyle, or even different values then what we believe.  In this era of prolific social media (and physical distancing because of the pandemic), we have an even greater challenge to address.  I have recently been in situations with family and friends where the discussion revealed differing points of view.  It took great effort for me to stop and remember that this person is someone that I love, and someone who is “Christ” in my midst.  When there is very restricted opportunity for in person contact, the internet becomes a place to share opinions and comments. Unfortunately, we do not have the human contact that reminds us that there is another person who is “Christ” in our midst at the other end of the posting.  This separation of persons creates a space where an individual can attack another individual and have no recognition of the possible harm that this comment has on the other.  This negativity breeds hate and increases the division we are experiencing on so many levels in our world.  

As disciples of Christ, we are called to live from a place of mercy.  Finding Christ in the world around me requires prayer, wisdom, and courage.  Whether in person or online, we are called to respond to others with kindness and compassion.  This is impossible for us to do unless we recognize how we are “clothed with Christ,” and we also remind ourselves of His presence in others.  The division and name calling appears to be intensifying in our nation and world, and this is where we are called to step in and be “Christ in the midst.”  By prayerfully considering our words when we speak or our posts before we press enter, we can help diffuse some of the anger and division in our world.  We are called to be “Christ in the midst” of the world and to find “Christ in the midst.”  This is the only way towards finding answers for the many issues we face.

This prayer of St. Patrick reminds us that Christ is in our midst.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ under me, Christ over me,
Christ to right of me, Christ to left of me,
Christ in lying down, Christ in sitting, Christ in rising up
Christ in the heart of every person, who may think of me!
Christ in the mouth of every one, who may speak to me!
Christ in every eye, which may look on me!
Christ in every ear, which may hear me! AMEN 

- Marylynn Herchline