Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Collect of Mary, Cause of Our Joy

 Lectionary: 364

Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes;' and your 'No' mean 'No.'
Anything more is from the Evil One."

Look at the Humility of God," Saint Francis wrote in his "Letter to all the Friars." Like Jesus in today's passage from his Sermon on the Mount, Il Poverello di Assisi was reflecting on the manner of our life, which should include a dignified bearing: 

"Consider your dignity, brothers, priests, and be holy because He Himself is holy." 

As I have read the scriptures, especially Deuteronomy, I have been reminded of the command given to God's elect, "Be holy as I am holy." 

The Church has reminded us often since the Vatican Council that the world is more impressed by what we do than by what we say. We must demonstrate the Love of God by our works of charity. They're not impressed by arguments; few want to hear the Church's history of doctrinal development with its unsavory stories of heresy and anathemas. But "seeing your good works they will give glory to God." (Mt 5:16) 

Many Christian churches, Catholic and Protestant, have active outreach to the homeless, unemployed, imprisoned, and impoverished elderly and children. 

These charities must be accompanied by convincing signs of respect for everyone who comes to us. Like Jesus when he saw a poor woman give her last two copper coins to the insatiable temple coffers, we should admire and be amazed at the courage, generosity, and dignity of those we serve. And we do that by meeting them with equal courage, generosity, and dignity. 

Dignity has no need for exaggerated language. We might use hyperbole when we're telling an amusing story, but it should never be used to describe an opposing party, different religion, or current fashion. Those who advocate abortion as a form of birth control are not murderers, Nazis, or Satanists. Such talk lacks dignity and only contaminates conversation. It impresses no one and changes neither minds nor hearts. 

Likewise, dignity has no need to disparage others with gossip. We speak well of one another, and admire one another. 

Considering the Lord's admonition that we should "Let your yes mean yes and your no mean no" has led me to consider simple language, dignified demeanor, admiration for others despite whatever challenges they face, and back to the command, "Be holy as I am holy." 

There are many secular organizations doing many philanthropic works; they have their philosophical reasons for doing so. The Church is driven by the Spirit of God and brings its holiness. That should be evident in our dignity and our pleasant good humor. We can be generous because there's plenty more where that came from . Our providential God provides! 

We're also aware of God's benevolent oversight; he sees and knows and appreciates our work. We often speak well of God as we would of any friend who is right there in the same room. 

Finally, as we prepare for the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, we hear Saint Francis's exhortation to his friars about the Most Blessed Sacrament: 

Consider your dignity, brothers, priests, and be holy because He Himself is holy.

And as the Lord God has honored you above all through this mystery, even so do you also love and reverence and honor Him above all. It is a great misery and a deplorable weakness when you have Him thus present to care for anything else in the whole world. Let the entire man be seized with fear; let the whole world tremble; let heaven exult when Christ, the Son of the Living God, is on the altar in the hands of the priest. O admirable height and stupendous condescension! O humble sublimity! O sublime humility! that the Lord of the universe, God and the Son of God, so humbles Himself that for our salvation He hides Himself under a morsel of bread. Consider, brothers, the humility of God and “pour out your hearts before Him,” and be ye humbled that ye may be exalted by Him. 

Do not therefore keep back anything for yourselves that He may receive you entirely who gives Himself up entirely to you.