24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Deacon Tim’s Column
September 13, 2009
24th Sunday in Ordinary Time

What an appropriate combination of readings today, the selection from James (Jas 2:14-18) and Mark (Mk 8:27-35). In the Gospel passage, Jesus tells the disciples and the crowds that had followed him “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” Sometimes we get are under the misconception that the cross Jesus is talking about is pain or suffering, illness or abuse. The misconception is that we are to bear these stoically because of what Jesus said. The cross he was talking about, the denial he was referring to was the consequences of following him and his teaching. There is nothing Christ-like in a battered woman enduring physical and mental abuse. This is not carrying the cross that Christ referred to. As to pain, suffering and illness, these things can happen to anyone, even non-believers. The “denying of oneself” doesn’t refer to the “giving up of something, for example Lenten fasts. What it does refer to is the spirituality of placing the common good and Christ at the center of our lives and not merely our own desires and wants.
In line with the selection from Mark James very succinctly says “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body what good is it?” I would imagine that if Mark was writing today, he also might include if a brother or sister has no medical care and you say to them, go in peace, and keep healthy and do nothing to help them, what good is it. (In the United States approximately 48-50 million people are without any kind of health insurance. Of this number close to 10 million are children. – U.S. Census Bureau)
How can we deny ourselves and take up our cross? Are we willing to place economic and social concerns and our own desires second and look out for the common good of all? Are we ready to do that? Is this denial of self concerning the poor and marginalized what Jesus was talking about? He said if we do it for his sake it is. If we want to be his true followers, we absolutely have to follow what he taught in the Gospels. The litmus test of our degree of following the Gospel and of our Christianity is how we treat and care for the least members of our society.
Come Holy Spirit grant us the spirit of piety that we might find the service of God sweet and enjoy showing your goodness to others.
Deacon Tim 734-502-1818
deacontim@tds.net
http://shamrockdeacon/blogspot.com

BLESSING OF PETS – Sunday, October 4, 2009 (the feast of St. Francis of Assisi). At 2:00 p.m. we will have the blessing of pets in the small parking lot next to the day chapel. All pets, dogs, cats, gerbils, rabbits, fish, etc., are welcome.