Monday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 467

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God....

Saint Paul's important Letter to the Romans begins with one of his typically endless sentences. The Gospel fired his brilliant mind and he could barely contain his enthusiasm. His impulsive zeal rushed from his heart, through his mind, and onto the page with a torrent of words. We can imagine his preaching was also like that; we've heard preachers who can't seem to find the end of their sermons. 

The Apostle was eager to share the gift he had received. He was like a boy who's been given a football for his birthday. As wonderful as it is, the gift is useless if he can't play football with other kids. The Gospel had unexpectedly found the Jewish citizen of Tarsus and sent him onto the empire's highways to speak of Jesus to gentiles. Well educated in both Jewish religion and gentile philosophy, he had discovered his place, identity, and purpose. The slave and apostle of Christ Jesus could not be happier.

Catholics of the twenty-first century also discover their place and purpose in the Church. Whether we're cradle Catholics or converts to it, we cannot be satisfied with the name only. Unlike older generations of Americans, we don't need a religion to identify ourselves. No one has to claim a religion anymore. Many of our neighbors are content to be American, or citizens of one of its states. Some are identified by their professions, careers, or jobs. Some claim a sports team and call themselves fans. Or they invest their life and purpose in their children, hobbies, or obsessions. 

Catholics do their religion. The Lord demands that we be holy and the world expects it. As Saint Paul lived in the Gospel, we live in the Church, which has both time and space. We find ourselves in God's time,  in this present moment between its history and its destiny. 

While millions suffer future shock, and cannot navigate an increasingly complicated world, we know where we're going because we know where we've been. If the end of history is distant, it's nonetheless in sight because we see the approach of the Lord of Glory. With that security we can care for one another. 

Given this orientation within the world without being part of the world, we do as Saint Paul did. We invite others to know the Lord as we know him, our savior, guide, friend, companion, and God.