Return to the Center

The Mass readings of the 30th and 31st Sundays in Ordinary Time share a timeless wisdom of being centered on God. Some days we find ourselves on an unforeseen path. A sudden or perhaps gradual change causes a shift in what we had planned for, hoped for, longed for. Some changes are a result of natural occurrences, political unrest, an illness or accident. Other changes come about by our own sinfulness or the impact of another’s choice. Within the diversion is a longing to return to the center, to return to that which we would identify as “normal,” steady, consistent, focused, light, strength. We long to return to the one who offers the gift of love. 

The promise (Jer 31:7-9)

Imagine after generations of living in exile you, your family and faith community are led by the Lord back home. The prophet Jeremiah describes this promise to the exiled Israelites who have long desired to return to Jerusalem, their center, their home, their place to worship God. Even though God never abandoned the exiled nation, he did forewarn them through the prophets of the looming path. During their exile God promised to gather them from the ends of the earth and open a way of return. Those who left weeping will one day return with joy, exclaiming, “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy” (Ps 126). For God is their father.

Our center (Heb 5:1-6; 7:23-28)

Personal exile is the result of a decision to turn away from the Lord in sin. It can either be a slow exile or a swift one. Either way we experience a turbulent journey of restlessness, brutal, seeped in despair, loss and blindness if it goes unrealized and unaccounted. At some point reality is met with darkness. Desert. Dryness. Hoping for change. A light of conversion awakens. Grace. We desire to return to the Lord, our center. 

But how can that happen when unworthiness seems to blot out mercy? We cry out, “Have pity on me, Lord.” We desire mercy. We need help. Only one can offer a perfect sacrifice and gift of self to not only lead us home but who also redeems, repairs, atones and satisfies the debt. Jesus, our high priest, offered himself as sacrifice in atonement for our sins. He is our help, our path of love, our “high priest.” Patient for the ignorant. Knowledgeable of human weakness. Perfectly free from sin and obedient to the will of God. “Lo, I have come to do your will, O God” (Jn 6:38). In Christ we have our center.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches in Paragraph 616, “it is ‘love to the end’ that confers on Christ’s sacrifice its value as redemption and reparation, as atonement and satisfaction. He knew and loved us all when he offered his life. Now ‘the love of Christ controls us, because we are convinced that one has died for all; therefore, all have died.’ No man, not even the holiest, was ever able to take on himself the sins of all men and offer himself as a sacrifice for all. The existence in Christ of the divine person of the son, who at once surpasses and embraces all human persons and constitutes himself as the head of all mankind, makes possible his redemptive sacrifice for all.” 

Take courage (Mk 10:46-52)

Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, called out from darkness as Jesus passed him on the roadside, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Bystanders attempted to quiet him, but when Jesus calls for Bartimaeus they said to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” Jesus asks “What do you want me to do for you?” He replies “Master, I want to see.” Bartimaeus’ confident faith leads him to directly state what he wants Jesus to do. “Jesus tells him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you. Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.’

 “I will gather them from the ends of the world, with the blind and the lame in their midst.” (Jer 31:8) Take courage. Be strong. Jesus is calling you to come out of the darkness.

31st on the 31st 

The liturgical 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time takes place this year on the 31st of October, All Hallows Eve, aka, Halloween. Saintly costumed trick or treaters receive rather large handfuls of goodies from our buckets each year. Nothing against the traditional princesses, Avengers, Turtles, spooks and ghosts. Yet, donning a costume representing one of the canonized saints is a great way to share the Gospel on Halloween, especially if a little one is dressed as St. Michael or St. Joseph
(“Terror of Demons”). Canonized saints are living witnesses of the two greatest commandments spoken of during this Sunday’s Mass readings, the Shema and love of neighbor.

Shema and More (Dt 6:2-6; Mk 12:28-34)

Moses addresses the people, urging them to keep the Lord’s commandments for life.  As a reminder, Moses recited this prayer to be spoken in the morning and evening: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your strength.” The command is to love God, who is our Lord, with our entire being. We begin and end the day in prayer and commitment to love God.

After being questioned by a scribe who asked, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus recites the Shema and adds, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love of God and others is the foundation of life in Christ. Paragraph 1823 in the catechism teaches, “Jesus makes charity the new commandment. By loving his own ‘to the end,’ he makes manifest the father’s love which he receives. By loving one another, the disciples (and we) imitate the love of Jesus which they themselves receive.” To love God, we must love others. To love others, we must love God.

Year of St. Joseph

Most Holy, St. Joseph, be our model of faith, hope and love, as we answer the call to holiness. By your intercession may we center our lives on Jesus, fully alive in love God and love of neighbor. Amen.