Memorial of Saint Romuald, monk and reformer

 Lectionary: 370

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

The fishing club at Mount Saint Francis, to improve the health of the lake, seeded it with grass eating carp. These vegetarian fish will not take a hook for they have no interest in worms, leeches, or maggots; but the young eat several times their own weight every day. They grow fat and lazy in our lake. Attaining maturity, they don't eat as much and serve little purpose as far as we're concerned. 

I saw several recently as a school of four or five slowly, idly moved about one end of the lake. I got one decent picture of an unphotogenic monster. It's about two feet long and likes to loll in the shallows and bright sunshine. 

Looking at it early the next morning I thought of a song by Jerry Lee Lewis, Dat Lucky Old Sun, and the words, "Give me nothin to do but roll around heaven all day." 

Today the Church remembers Saint Romuald, a hermit, founder, and martyr. A pious man who moved often as he inspired men and women to build hermitages and monasteries. His monks and nuns retreated from the furious pace of the cities. They chose to live quietly, reliant on the weather to grow their crops and God's mercy to protect them from thieves and marauders. Between the demands of work and communal support, they would have nothin to do but roll through the days, nights, and four seasons giving praise to God.  

In today's gospel, the Lord reminds us that we need not worry so much about our labor and productivity. Despite whatever the boss tells you, life is not measured by metrics. We can be sure the Lord never heard of such nonsense. 

Are you not more important than metrics? than your work? 

When Saint Paul boasted -- as he does in today's first reading -- he crowed about his failure, weakness, and the insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints he had suffered for the sake of Christ. One of the most productive missionaries in the history of the Church spent many days cooling his heels in Roman jails. 

No one can measure the important work we do, our ministry as families, neighbors, friends, and congregations. Our being here counts for much. Our work, as Jesus patiently explained in Capernaum, is to believe in the One sent from the Father. 

Accomplishing that we will hear the happy pronouncement, 

"Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.’"