St James Catholic Church

In our first reading today, Malachi asks “Have we not all the one father?  Has not the one God created us?” Indeed we all have the same Father in heaven, as Jesus points out in the Gospel.  We have all been created by God.  This should give us some humility, for it means that none of us is created more in the image of God than anyone else.  The person we see begging on a street corner or starving in a drought-stricken region of the world is created in the image of God, just like me.  Therefore, all people deserve a basic dignity because they are created and loved by God.  For the same reason, none of us should feel unworthy of that basic dignity because no one is created less in the image of God than anyone else. 

When those in positions of authority treat themselves as superior to the people in their care while doing nothing to help them, like the scribes and pharisees in the Gospel, it poisons that atmosphere for everyone.  The deadly sin of pride on the one hand, and envy on the other, are invited to fester.  The sense of entitlement those in authority have can lead to abuse of those without power, and the feeling of powerlessness that the majority of people have can lead to violence against those in power.  Jesus’ lesson for all of us is to realize that we are all called to serve, not to be served.  “The greatest among you must be your servant.  Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled; but whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.”  We should be humble.  Leave the business of exalting to God.

This is National Vocation Awareness Week.  We pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate, and religious life.  We also pray for more people to give their lives in lay ministry (Liturgists, Directors of Religious Education, and Pastoral Ministry.)  We have all received the calling in baptism to exercise the priesthood of Jesus Christ.  That means serving and not being served, laying down our lives for others.

Love, Peace, Joy,

Fr. Bob