“Servant King” – the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, a day also known as the Feast of Christ the King.  St. Paul tells us this king “must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, of which death is the last to be destroyed” (see 1 Corinthians 15:25-26).  Hence it might be easy to imagine we are compelled to worship a literally untouchable and omnipotent and heavenly king who is robed in splendor, and who sits on a high throne.  We might then think about photos we’ve seen of earthly kings and queens; they sit upon fancy thrones and wear elaborate vestments and they have armies of servants around them and wield mighty power.  In fact, many images of Christ the King depict him just so.  But I believe our Scriptures today encourage us to instead focus on an image of Christ the King as a “Shepherd” and “Servant King.”  This was highlighted by the Prophet Ezekiel in our first reading with the words: “I the Lord will look after and tend my sheep, as a shepherd tends his flock” (see Ezekiel 34:11-12).

Even though Jesus told his disciples “the Son of Man will come in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him” (see Matthew 25:31-32), he immediately noted this king would first judge others based on how they had placed themselves “in service” to “the least” of their sisters and brothers.  The King would divide the people between “the sheep and the goats.”  The “sheep” were those who during their lives had served the Kingdom because they had fed the hungry, given drink to the thirsty, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked, cared for the sick and visited prisoners.  Jesus said such true servants, whom he called “the righteous,” would inherit “eternal life,” but those who failed to live such lives would “be sent off to eternal punishment.”  For Christians then, the obligation to serve the needy and the marginalized is not an option.

But how do we put this mandate of Christian service into practice in our own lives?  Certainly that part of our faith about respecting, loving, and forgiving our neighbors is an important part of the answer.  On this note, I would think it a contradiction for a Christian to volunteer to serve the hungry and the homeless (or any similarly “challenged” community), but at the same time to harbor resentments and ill feelings toward those being served.  Our service to the needy must be done with complete deference to them and with care for them as fellow human beings.  If not, then we’ve simply done whatever we’ve done with nothing more than egoistic self-satisfaction.  This obviously isn’t what we are called to do!

Jesus himself modeled the call to service by the way he lived his entire existence on earth.  Although he did promise “to put all his enemies under his feet,” he did not present himself as an untouchable and omnipotent earthly king.  And so I believe it is good for us to think of Jesus as our “Shepherd” and our “Servant King” because he was quick to forgive sinners, eager to welcome foreigners, zealous about giving sight to the blind and healing lepers, vocal in his opposition to injustices, and always ready to do countless other things to lift up “the least” of his sisters and brothers.  And as his faithful disciples, we must do the same however we are able.  And then we too will be called “the righteous,” and will inherit the promised “eternal life!”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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“While We Have Time, Let Us Do Good” – the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today’s Gospel passage is known as “the Parable of the Talents” (see Matthew 25:14-30).  Jesus spoke of a Master who had entrusted three of his employees with his wealth while he traveled to a foreign land; he hoped each would produce a profit, but he entrusted each with different amounts, each according to their perceived abilities.  Two of them wisely invested what they received and were able double their returns. The Master therefore commended them as “good and faithful servants,” and they were then “given greater responsibilities” and also invited to “share the Master’s joy.”  The third foolishly buried his share and consequently made no profit whatsoever.  The Master therefore called him a “wicked, lazy servant,” and he was then “thrown into the darkness outside.”

This Gospel Parable reminds me of a passage found in Saint Paul’s Letter to the Galatians which reads: “Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest if we do not give up” (see Galatians 6:9).  And these words remind me of a favorite quotation from St. Francis of Assisi in which he said: “While we have time, let us do good” (from the Exhortation of our Blessed Father Francis to the Friars).

Being “good and faithful servants,” doing our best, and reaping a harvest as a response to God’s will, is our common calling.  From an eternal perspective, each and every person’s role in that is important and valuable.   Even the most humble and simple people among us have an important role to play in God’s plan.

I think one of the best illustrations of this is the example given to us by our Blessed Mother Mary.  She was a poor and seemingly insignificant young woman from an out of the way, and supposedly unimportant, town called Nazareth.  Even though she was poor, humble and lowly, Mary responded greatly to God's call, and therefore she became the mother of Jesus, the Savior of all of humanity.  We all may know people who, because they are humble and/or not perfect, believe they “count for nothing” and are unable to make a positive contribution to the world in which they live.  That person may just be our very selves.  But really, like the poor, humble and lowly Mary, we too are capable of great things if we but just believe so!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus challenges each one of us to use our God given talents, to whatever degree we have them, for some kind of greater good.  He clearly teaches us that we must never minimize our ability to make the best of these.  Let’s not underestimate ourselves and the good that we can do for others.  We have been given the great gift of faith, and we believe in the power of the Lord Jesus over our lives.  And so, may our faith inspire us to greatness, and may we never be overcome by fear because we are not perfect and/or because we are sinners.  I believe it is in just such people, the humble and weak, that our God places his greatest hope!  We are “good and faithful servants” of our Lord and Master, and so “while we have time, let us do good!”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy
 

**I published an earlier version of this reflection on November 16, 2014 (May We Never Underestimate Ourselves, the Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time--Year A)

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“Be Prepared!” – the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Isn’t it true that most of us, even from our earliest days, have hoped to “be prepared” for whatever our futures would bring?  And so to these ends, we’ve taken part in activities, studies, retreats, and programs that have reinforced and made us ready to accomplish all of our hopes and dreams.  This certainly has been true for me!  For example, I remember long ago September 1969, when I was a tender seven years old and just after I started the second grade, I informed my parents I wanted to become a Cub Scout.  I told them I wanted to follow in the footsteps of my older brother who was already a Boy Scout.  “Scouting” had been a valued part of my family’s traditions, and even my four younger sisters would eventually become enthusiastic members of the Girl Scouts.  I joined the Cub Scouts, and later was a Webelos Scout, and then like my brother eventually became a Boy Scout myself.

Common to all “Scouting” programs is the motto “Be Prepared.”  Scouts know such “preparedness” is an all-important way of living one’s life!  And so now, long after I’ve worn any of the uniforms of the Boy Scouts of America, I believe the idea of “being prepared” continues to influence my thoughts and decisions as I look to the future.  And as a parallel, isn’t it true Christians probably have one of the most poignant understandings of this need to “be prepared” as they live their lives?  Surely, by what we say and do, most of us desire to give witness to our hope of future glory!

Today’s Gospel makes me think of those two simple words of the Boy Scout Motto: “Be Prepared!”  The “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids” has a lot to say about this idea (see Matthew 25:1-13).  It tells us the five “foolish bridesmaids” ran out of oil for their lamps because they didn’t bring enough to last through a long night of waiting for the bridegroom; in contrast, the other five who were “wise,” had brought extra “flasks of oil” and were fully prepared, and able to light their lamps, when he finally arrived.  And so while the foolish ones were forced to scurry about at the last minute in an unsuccessful attempt to make up for their “unpreparedness,” those who were wise had lighted lamps, and thus entered the wedding feast with the bridegroom when he arrived.  Jesus said those faithfully awaiting the coming of the Kingdom were something akin to those “wise bridesmaids.”  Even though they didn’t know exactly the day or the hour of its arrival, they were ready and set to enter the feast when the moment finally came!  Jesus tells us we must likewise “be prepared” for entrance into the Kingdom!

Therefore we must “be prepared” completely for the coming of Jesus, the church’s “bridegroom,” when he comes again.  That unknown day and hour might come to pass at the final moment of our own personal lives, or perhaps it will happen at the “end of time.”  Hence, with all of this in mind, today I’ve remembered the wisdom contained within the Boy Scout Motto as I’ve contemplated the message of the Gospel!   My friends, let’s be “wise!”  May all of our activities, studies, retreats, and programs, truly help us to “be prepared” for the coming of the Kingdom!  Amen!

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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“Modern Day Pharisees?”–the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time–Year A

My Sisters and Brothers:

Today we find another example of Jesus’ frequent and severe criticism of the Pharisees (see Matthew 23:1-12).  This was all about their lack of humility and their inability to place themselves in true service to others.  It’s certainly worth a very careful reading and reflection upon every one of the “pharisaical errors” we hear about today!  Jesus repeatedly emphasized how those with “true faith” needed to avoid behaving as they did.  He said: “The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.  Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example.  For they preach but they do not practice” (see verses 2-3).  In contrast, Jesus wanted his disciples to demonstrate their faith by placing themselves in service to others, especially to the most marginalized and needy among them.  Therefore, he warned them not to follow the corrupt and untrustworthy “leadership,” of the Pharisees.

The type of criticism Jesus had for the Pharisees and other “religious leaders” was nothing new.  Even in the days of the Old Testament Book of Malachi, the priests of the people were rebuked for their lack of faith and for failing to serve God’s people!  And it’s not coincidental we find a clear example of this in today’s first reading (see 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10).  Those priests were warned they had not “given glory to the Lord’s name,” and because of their infidelity “a curse would be sent upon them” (cf. 2:2).  Malachi clearly proclaimed they had “turned aside from the way, had caused many to falter by their instruction, and had made void the covenant of their fathers” (cf. 2:8).  Instead of serving and leading their people into faithful relationships with God, they had led them astray.  This was the same criticism Jesus had for the Pharisees.

As I reflect on today’s Scriptures, I’m sadly compelled to contemplate the possibility there might be “modern day Pharisees” among us.  These would be “religious leaders” who’ve failed “to give glory to God’s name” by the way they’ve lived their lives.  Such “leaders” have failed to be true servants and witnesses to God’s love and forgiveness.  And as we’ve seen in both the Old and New Testaments, such “leaders” have “caused many to falter by their instructions.”  These are precisely the ones whose example Jesus warns us not to follow because they “don’t practice what they preach.”  Lamentably, I’m sure many of us can think of examples of such “modern day Pharisees” who through the scandals they’ve caused or facilitated have “made void the covenant of their fathers.”

But it isn’t simply corrupt “religious leaders” who might fall into “pharisaical error.”  I think all of us, to some degree or another, must guard ourselves against temptations to similarly conduct our “religious” lives.  As much as clergy and professional church workers are called to be completely authentic in living their lives of faith, so too are all baptized Christians.  No one of us must ever be hypocritical through our “religious” words and actions!  And we must be “servants” to all.  I think this is what Jesus really meant when he told his followers “do not follow the example of the scribes and Pharisees.”

As we contemplate today’s message, we might also consider that visitors and strangers may come into our churches looking for refuge from the difficulties of life.  Some of these people, especially those who have been marginalized and who may have felt estranged from God, are searching for forgiveness, for love, for peace, and for acceptance.  If when they enter they encounter nothing but “modern day Pharisees,” who simply wish to “tie up heavy burdens hard for people to carry, but who won’t lift a finger themselves” (see verse 4), why should we be surprised when they then turn away from us and don’t return?

My friends, let’s never allow ourselves, our parish communities, our churches, and our “religious leaders” to commit the “pharisaical errors” of the past.  To the contrary, let’s always put into practice the very last words of Jesus in today’s Gospel in which he said: “The greatest among you must be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Praise God!  Friar Timothy

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