The Bread of Life discourse has come to an end. This week, in a unique way, we hear about the real meaning of the Liturgy. For many people, especially priests—and those priests who’s concentration for the MDiv degree in seminary was liturgy, the liturgy can become all important as a ritual and a rite. Sometimes so much so that it becomes the overarching theme of the day. I know! For those of us involved in the preparation of the liturgy we can become absorbed in the details (the rubrics) of the liturgy, and while the rubrics are important we must not let them become the liturgy.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus condemns those (the Pharisees) whose religion is nothing but an empty form, perhaps showing itself as just going through the “motions” or doing the “ritual thing” but not allowing the faith to in-fuse the self and become the force for good in our lives and in our world. The real meaning of the liturgy is to care for and about God’s creation. The Pharisees challenge Jesus about the details of the Law. In today’s first reading Moses presents the Law as “justice” and now the Pharisees are “redefining” the law as ritual purity in the “cleansing of the cups, jugs, kettles and beds” (Mark 7:4). Sometimes rituals and rubrics can become the force in the liturgy rather than being “the vessels that hold something much larger: the worship of the Christian people, which God fills with grace.” The rubrics and rituals are those things that help us to understand the mystery of God and are not, as some thought the gold on the Temple walls was, that which gives glory to God. God is the glory.
In today’s second reading we hear, in a far different way then from Saint Paul’s very deep and theological writings, in a simple and direct manner from St. James that we must be “doers” and not just “hearers.” That pure relig-ion is lived out both externally in service of the afflicted, and internally, in remaining “unstained” by the world. (1:27)
Jesus wants us—and James reiterates clearly—to be so transformed by our faith that we live it out in our daily lives as to transform others and the world around us. Thus we profess our faith by the actions we do (being “doers”), and by being imitators of Christ, albeit in a human version or as a “shadow” of Christ. The list of things that can assist us in becoming “doers” is long and well-known by us all. No one needs to tell you or highlight those “doings.” The real question is “how do I incorporate being a “doer” in my daily life and still live-out my other commitments—family, work, community—in a 24-hour day/seven-day-a-week schedule?”
The simple yet difficult answer is all in the quality, not the quantity of the “doing.” We are not called to save the world. That we leave to God. We are not even called to avert hunger, eliminate loneliness, defeat evil, or impart complete harmony in the lives of others. What we are called to do is our part. And doing our part is different for each and every soul. Not everyone has the same, identical calling in life and so we do not have the same, identical gifts from God in order to complete that individual calling. However, we do all share equally in the same commission from God, a commission to care and to act (to do) in His name. Whatever it is that we are called to do, the great and the small, it is to be done with God’s love and concern. Whether we are called to lead a ministry in feeding the hungry or simply deliver a loaf of bread or a bunch of bananas, what matters is the act of caring. I think it was Connecticut Governor William A. O’Neill (1980-1991—Connecticut’s longest serving Governor since Jonathan Trumbull, Sr., 1769-1784) who said, “Caring is Sharing.”
God asks each one of us to care—and to share —with those in need—by the power of the gifts He gives to us. In that great Book in heaven, in which we all hope to have our names inscribed, we trust that it does not list the size or quantity of the act but rather the act itself. No need is too great as to dwarf the human spirit of love, and no act is too small to be received in gratitude and joy by the one in need and by the God of all. Let us not worry so much about what it is we are doing and rather be more concerned with the godly act of “doing;” being “doers” in the image and likeness of our God.
The actions of this parish, collectively and individually, must certainly ensure that the Book in heaven needs many pages for the names of the “doers” right here at Saint Catherine of Siena. Thank you!
Speaking of being a “doer,” I want to thank Mr. Max O’Meara for all his hard work and great efforts in the multiple projects he has been working on this summer on our parish grounds. From scrapping and sanding and painting the outside of the Church, to removing old posts and huge rocks and weeds around the mechanical areas, Max has been a real trooper in seeing to the beauty and functioning of our facilities. I appreciate his time, his talent and know-how, as well as all the expense he has saved this parish by his hard work and generous donation of time. Thank you!
Peace,
-Father Michael
A gentle and kindly reminder to our ministers at Mass (altar servers, lectors and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, cantors), appropriate attire for serving at Mass is a sign of respect for God and the liturgy. Flip-flops, shorts, and beach-like attire should not be worn (to Mass) in the sanctuary. We are, after all, blessed with air conditioning. Without being too picky (note above comments on the “the rubrics and ritual details”), as Catholics we believe that the Mass is the most sacred communal act and we remind ourselves by the “rubrics and rituals” that we are in a special place (God’s house) during our time at Church. Our demeanor, attire, and prayers should announce to others our beliefs as being lived-out in both word and deed. Peace!
