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Pastor's Letter 20211017 - 17 October 2021 - Being of Service


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October 17th, 2021

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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A Message from Father Michael

Today’s Theme:  “Being of Service”

Reflections on Today’s Scripture

The “Fourth Servant Song,” from which our First Reading is taken (Isaiah 53: 10-11,) contributed three, very important features to the primitive Church’s perception of the crucifixion: Firstly, Isaiah’s song aided Christians in their understanding of Christ’s suffering as innocent, vicarious and redemptive; Secondly, the universal scope of the servant’s mission (“for many”) was seen as a prefigurement of “cosmic dimensions” of Jesus’ saving work; and thirdly, the servant’s promised vindication (V.10,) when compared to the glorification of Jesus, offered the early community a means for understanding His resurrection in relation to the cross.  Because of this, and similar texts, early Christian apologists could perceive Christ, not as a “victim of circumstances,” but as a willing and perfect gift to humanity—the crucifixion was seen not as an execution, but as a freely offered sacrifice, willed by God for the salvation of all peoples.  Moreover, early believers were led to see the passion, and even their own suffering, for the sake of discipleship, not as the waste of human energies and the alienation of peoples.  

~~~

Today’s Second Reading (Hebrews 4:14-16,) surrounds the realization that origins of the priesthood among the Israelites are difficult to trace with absolute certainty.  However, there is sufficient evidence to indicate that the priestly office includes their acting as mediators and interpreters of oracles, having knowledge as to intricacies of the Law, through their education; and as mediators between God and the believing community.  Little is known of the pre-exilic priesthood.  Post exile, the priesthood flourished, and the office of high priest took on great political and religious importance.  Like the high priests of Israel, Jesus was representative of the people, but unlike the high priests of Judaism, He did not approach the throne of grace (“Holy of Holies,”) alone.  Because of His saving action and perfect sacrifice, humanity need no longer send one from among them to offer an animal in holocaust for sin, or ear to approach the Holy One.  With Jesus, everyone has been made capable of drawing near to God to receive mercy, favor and help.

~~~

It is evident in our Gospel selection today (Mark 10: 35-45,) the disciples displayed abysmal incomprehension of Jesus’ purpose and of the quality of His Kingdom.  With surety, Jesus could promise a share in His cross for all who would be His followers, but only the Father could decide to reward with glory those who persevere in faith. Jesus endowed His disciples with an authority to be exercised in service.  Those who would be great in the Kingdom Jesus proclaimed, would seem to be the last of all and the least among all.  They must look up into the faces of the poor, the needy and the suffering, to offer them the service they deserve as God’s precious little ones—from a position of servitude, not as lords.       

Role Reversal

“Our business is to serve you!” is a commonly advertised slogan of various enterprises in our modern world.  From local gas stations, all the way to the Congress of the United States, “service” is offered.  Those who serve in government are often called, in fact, “public servants.”  The PM of Great Britain is officially called the “First Servant” of the nation.  It’s common to expect and accept professional services in our daily life with a bill “for services rendered,” presented shortly thereafter. 

Our service to one another is more clearly Christian without a “fee for services rendered.”  Rendering free services to the poor or suffering persons is an example.  Children should provide it for their parents, and Church workers, religious and priests should offer free service wherever it is needed. 

Jesus’ act of washing the feet of the apostles at the Last Supper served to emphasize a lesson He had earlier taught them.  This was, namely, that for them, authority was to be a form of service.  Today, there is often a gulf between those who rule and those who are ruled.  Those in “low places” feel they are not appreciated by those in “high positions,” throughout society.  They see the latter as remote, and uncaring.  Those who have worked their way up into high positions sometimes forget what it is like to be “in the trenches.”  To remember is to understand…a good parent remembers what it was like to be a child.  

Would that those above might follow the example Jesus gave at the Last Supper:  let the policeman be arrested; the priest sit in the pew; the teacher sit at the student’s desk; the foreman do the menial tasks of the workers; the warden be locked-up; the doctor become seriously ill; the judge be put in the dock like the defendant; the general go onto the “front line” with the foot soldiers; and the man with the secure job join those waiting to be hired.  Perhaps then, we may see a more caring and sensitive exercise of authority….

Of course, the opposite also happens: those above are not understood by those below, and harsh judgments are sometimes handed “up.”

The primary aim of workers unions, early in the industrial age, was to improve the lot of the laborer.  The extreme position of Marx was to overthrow the owners of capital and give it to those who worked to sustain it.  But like all socialist-oriented solutions to the problem of economic strata, it comes with myriad difficulties—not the least of which is that receipt of “riches” for which one does no effort are often squandered, and expected, without further effort.  The rampant abuses seen in many welfare systems attest to that. Most business leaders today understand that they are supported by a “working class,” without which their enterprise could not be sustained.  The current pandemic is testimony to how businesses are disadvantaged when there is a shortage of labor.  Coupled with government programs to “ease the burden” of the wage earner, there doesn’t seem to be any quick solution for the problem.   

It serves us well, as Christians, regardless of our station in life, to justly administer our “wealth” so that those in service to us are treated fairly.  That wealth could be comprised of money and possessions, of course, but it also could be a “wealth of responsibility” for those over whom we exercise authority.  Regularly assessing our “position” in life, to be sure we are being appreciative for the kindness of others, is a valuable habit to cultivate.   

May God Richly Bless You!

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To see a live stream of today's Mass, click here:  https://youtu.be/nf23xNT8F9Y

Jesus, Savior, Blessed Friend.docx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by Father Michael
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