Friday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Earlier this week, we had our opening retreat for all employees at Chaminade Julienne as we embark on a new school year together. We were led through a beautiful workshop by my colleague, friend, and fellow IC parishioner, Caitlin Bennett, where she guided us through the core tenets of improv and how it applies to our work in Catholic education. One of the takeaways that I am still reflecting on is the concept of building on the work of one another, saying “Yes, and…” to add to the scene. Additionally, we ended the retreat celebrating mass together with Fr. Jim Heft, S.M. from the University of Dayton. In his homily, Fr. Heft spoke briefly about the etymology of the word commitment and community. Commitment is borrowed from the latin word, commitō, meaning ‘to bring together, join’, from com- (“together”) and mittō (“to send”). We make commitments all the time in our lives–to our families, our work, volunteer opportunities, friends, neighbors, and more.
The striking theme for me in both our first reading and the gospel centers around commitment. God’s astounding commitment to Jerusalem in the 16th chapter of Ezekiel, “I will remember the covenant I made with you” (60a) despite all of their shortcomings. And in our gospel, while the Pharisees are challenging Jesus on the rule of law regarding marriage, my mind is drawn back to the commitment that exists with the relationship I have been blessed with in my own marriage. I am fortunate to be surrounded by, and a part of, many vibrant and loving communities, but none is more prominent than the community that we are building in our home together, driven by a “Yes, and…” approach of faith, love, and discipleship. Each day, we rise together and commit to the many things involved in raising our family. God consistently shows his unwavering commitment, love, and mercy. He has “set up an everlasting covenant with [us]” (60b), Jesus. As disciples, we are called to die to ourselves, take up our crosses daily, and follow him. In marriage, in parenthood, in my work at CJ, this commitment to discipleship is the same. Whether we are married or not, God calls us to live in communion with one another–our family, friends, neighbors, colleagues–to love one another as he has loved us. Say ‘Yes, and…’ to a life filled with compassion and mercy, a life of love, a life of commitment, reflecting the love and mercy of a good and everlasting God. Together, let us go forth–commitō–striving to think like Jesus, talk like Jesus, and act like Jesus.
Yes, and…Amen.
Peace,
Brandon Meyer