Saturday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
It has been a standing joke in our family that when someone asks what I want for my birthday, I respond by saying, ”I just want everyone to get along and be happy.” Everyone usually just laughs at my response, since this seems like an implausible goal. I think that this desire for peace and unity comes from deep within. God has created all and draws all to be one in Christ as St. Paul mentions in his letter to the Galatians. The readings today offer some insights on the ways we might begin to move towards this remarkable experience of harmony and peace.
In the first reading, St. Paul explains that we all become children of God through our faith. At Baptism, we are “clothed in Christ” so there is no longer distinction between male or female, Jew or Greek, slave or free person. In the gospel reading, Jesus reminds us that our faith should help us to both see and act differently. To be blessed, we must both hear and observe the Word of God.
How can this help us to be one in Christ? If we are all clothed in Christ as St. Paul suggests, then a first step towards greater unity is to see Christ in others instead of the many things that we see as differences. How often do we look at someone and see only the many ways that separate us instead of seeking to recognize that this person is a child of God just like us? This requires a certain mindset that actively seeks to see God in others. Fr. Greg Boyle is a Jesuit priest who has worked with gang members in Los Angeles. In his book Tattoos on the Heart, he describes what it is like to see others in this way. “Close both eyes see with the other one. Then we are no longer saddled by the burden of our persistent judgments our ceaseless withholding our constant exclusion. Our sphere has widened and we find ourselves quite unexpectedly in a new expansive location in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love.” It is in this place where compassion and love reign that we begin to work towards being one in Christ.
Jesus reminds us that it is not just important to see others with the mind of Christ, but we are called to use our words and actions to build up and not tear down. Fr. Greg Boyle uses the concept of “kinship” to help describe this idea. He explains, “Kinship is not serving the other, but being one with the other. Jesus was not a “man for others”, he was one with them. There is a world of difference in that.” He goes on to say, “Compassion isn’t just about feeling the pain of others; it’s about bringing them in toward yourself.” This is a challenging way to be in relationship with others. It requires faith and grace to help us move beyond the pride, judgment, and fear that keeps us from this “kinship”. Jesus shows us how this should be done, and we find blessings when we can listen to His call and follow.
Holy Trinity-You are three persons in one God. You call creation to be one in You. Send down Your Spirit, so we can follow Jesus as we live lives of compassion and love. May the world grow in peace and unity as we think, talk, and act as disciples of Christ. We pray this in your Holy Name. AMEN
Marylynn Herchline