Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time

 Lectionary: 435

Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

In today's reading from his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul defines his life and ministry. In so doing, he presents to Christians for all time a model of self-definition. It is twofold, with negative and positive models. 

The negative:

I do not even pass judgment on myself;

I am not conscious of anything against me,

but I do not thereby stand acquitted;

the one who judges me is the Lord.

Saint Francis of Assisi would reiterate that teaching, "What a man is before God is what he is, and nothing more." 

From the day we're born, we are surrounded by authorities who tell us what we are and what we should be. Families, for instance, usually assign roles to their children: hero, black sheep, loner, or clown. It doesn't matter whether the child's temperament fits the role; they're told that's who they are. Children of a truly healthy family might trade roles frequently, each taking their turn. But that's rare. 

Having learned their roles in the family of origin, adults often play out those roles throughout their lives. The heroes take charge whether they're assigned to it or not; the clowns never take anything seriously; while the loners disappear; and the black sheep attract trouble. 

Entering school, the student meets infallible teachers. Entering the work force or military, they meet more infallible authorities along with their policies and SOPs. Few offer to negotiate; none ask, "What do you want?" 

An experience like that of Saint Paul on the road to Damascus can profoundly alter those assigned identities. Meeting the Infallible God, Saint Paul addressed him as "Sir." His Jewish reverence had taught him to recognize the God whom he loved and adored. This One, he knew, could speak to the core of his being and redirect his life. 

From that encounter on the road the Pharisee knew that no one's opinion about him mattered; only the "Jesus whom you are persecuting" could chasten his attitude, speak to his heart, and reset him on the straight road. 

The Christian learns that docile attitude from directly the Lord. It's maybe modeled but it's not taught by any human authority. As Jesus said to Simon Peter,

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 

I am convinced no one can remain in the Church who has not heard the heavenly Father speak directly to their hearts. They must love the Lord with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Hanging out with the church and conforming to its ethos does not equip one for the challenges of belonging to it. Without that single-minded attentiveness to the Lord, we cannot endure the idiocies of dealing with others. But seeing Jesus in our fellow Christians and strengthened the Spirit which impels us, we remain where he has placed us, in the Communion. 

As a member of the Church I honor push back when I might demand too much of others, while remaining firmly under the judgement of a merciful God who 

"will will bring to light what is hidden in darkness

and will manifest the motives of our hearts."

Finally, assured of the friendly, merciful gaze of God, and relieved of obsequiousness to other people, each one acts as a servant of Christ and a steward of the mysteries of God. 

As a priest in the Church, I administer the mysterious sacraments, offering them to those who recognize their power to bring us into communion. 

Every Christian finds their place with its duties and responsibilities within the Church; for we are a company sent to the world to represent the Goodness of our God. If we cannot tell those who join us precisely what they should do, we can offer them the space to listen to the "Sir" who speaks to their hearts. 

Freed of preassigned roles in a dysfunctional world, everyone receives praise from God: "Well done good and faithful servant! Come share your master's joy!"