One Mind and Purpose

Jan. 25, 2008 Reflection - 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Word order “be united in the same mind and in the same purpose” is not the same as the unanimity or the absence of disagreement in a group (Ps 83:6; Rv 17:13). Rather, it is our unity with the mind of Christ – which the Lord subordinated to the Father’s will, and our unity with the purpose of Christ – to finish the Father’s work (Jn 4:34; 6:38)- which the Lord dedicatedly pursued to Calvary. Such unity is the fruit of our relationship of life and love with God, in and through the person of Jesus Christ.

Matthew’s account of the call of the first disciples helps us understand the relationships of Peter, Andrew, James and John, and the new relationship that they entered with Jesus Christ. First, their relationship was fraternal - they were two sets of brothers. Second, their relationship was occupational. As was the case with most fathers and sons in the past, they were engaged in a common trade: in this case, as fishermen in the Sea of Galilee. Luke reveals to us the exact nature of their occupational relationship in his account of the call of the first disciples (Lk 5:7 & 9). We learn that these four men were “partners”. They were of the same mind and the same purpose to make a living through their fishing partnership. Luke used the Greek word “koinonia”, to describe this business partnership - the first time this word was used in scripture. Later on, Luke describes the life of the first Christian community after the Pentecost as “koinonia” (Acts 2:42). This time, “koinonia” conveyed a more profound sense- no longer referring to a business partnership, but rather to the “communion” of the first Christians after the Pentecost.

As a result of their common assent to Jesus’ call, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men,” these four men entered a new, mystical relationship among themselves and with Christ- the first stage of the “koinonia” referred to in Acts 2. This time, their fishing ground was not the Sea of Galilee but the Ocean of Mankind. They went out not in their tiny boats but in the ship of the Church. They did not need nets but the gospel for their catch. And their catch was not fish but men, not for themselves but for Christ. The business was no longer theirs but the Father’s business (Lk 2:49 NKJ). They were no longer to be guided by mere human wisdom, but God’s, for their work is God’s work. Pope Benedict XVI describes this new “koinonia” in this way: we have become “the communion of the Lord Himself, who grants what we could never have achieved by our own resources.” What was granted? We are one family, one body with Him. We are one with God. “Whoever is joined to Christ becomes one spirit with Him” (1 Cor 6:17).

Why then do we see dissension and conflict among Christians? Why do divisions arise? Is it because of our broken nature, which tends to weaken the exercise of our freedom, that at times, we give preference to self-centered rather than God-centered reasons? “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want” Rm 7:19.

The report of rivalries in Corinth prompted Paul to write his letter to the brethren. He urged the Corinthians to use their freedom not for division, but for unity. He called their attention to their rivalries, their factions. “I belong to Paul…I belong to Apollos…I belong to Cephas…I belong to Christ. Is Christ divided?” Here, Paul calls out the root cause for the dissension in Corinth: they have lost their focus on Jesus. They have placed their loyalties on men, not Jesus. He reminded them that Christ is their only leader and savior. Using himself as an example, Paul reiterated that he was sent by Christ, clearly showing his and every Christian’s right relationship to Christ. Christ is the sender, the Lord and the Master. We are the sent, the servants and the disciples. Then, Paul explained why he was chosen: “to preach the gospel…not with the wisdom of human eloquence.” What was Paul to rely on? “the cross of Christ, so that it might not be emptied of its meaning.” In other words, our life and ministry, our “koinonia”, must be about Jesus.

Two millennia later, Vatican II echoed Paul’s exhortation: “Genuine freedom is an outstanding manifestation of the divine image in man. For God willed man ‘in the power of his own counsel’ (Sir 15:14) so that he would seek his Creator of his own accord and freely arrive at full and blessed perfection by cleaving to God.” (Gaudium et Spes). Let’s repeat that last part: we can arrive at full and blessed perfection by cleaving to God. To cleave is to adhere to or stick to firmly, closely, loyally, unwaveringly! Cleave to Jesus, remain one with Him!

What does cleaving to Jesus mean? When conflicts and chaos do arise, it should not be an occasion to hopeless despair, such that we should raise our hands in surrender, or to wage a belligerent struggle, or to fall to schism or to flee from community. Rather, it should be an opportunity for each of us to prayerfully reflect on the underlying reasons for our conflict and to repent for what we may have contributed to it. It should be an opportunity for us to seek Jesus Christ and what His law of love impels us to do- which is to dialogue, to communicate, to forgive and to reconcile with one another. It should be an opportunity for us to recognize the preciousness of our God-given “koinonia”, which pride and self-righteousness, apathy and un-forgiveness threaten. It should be an opportunity for us to live firmly in our Christian values, to follow in Jesus footsteps, to embrace His cross in order to unite ourselves with the Father’s will. It is when we die to our passions, to our desires, to our pride, to our prerogatives, to our personal loyalties- for the sake of the gospel- that the true community emerges. When it does, then the Lord’s glory has indeed shone on us.

The Lord’s call to “Come after me” is a radical summon to cleave to His person, “partaking of His life and His destiny, sharing in His free and loving obedience to the will of the Father” (John Paul II). When we are conformed in mind and heart to Jesus, then the Lord’s purpose for us is fulfilled: “fishers of men.”

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help us constantly remember that our life and ministry, if they are to conform to the Father’s will, must be about You, not us. Keep our sights constantly focused on what delights You, and not our own pleasures. And during those times when we forget and lose our way, do not abandon us, but call us back to You. Bring us to that place of our endless communion with the Father, to Your heart, the heart of worship.

Reflection - 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Sept 30 2007

The Lord’s Word for is in September is “The Kingdom of God is for those who lift
up the poor”. Our Word themes in the previous four weeks have focused on how
we can “lift up the poor”, namely:

• When we help build homes for them
• When share our resources with them
• When we bring the Good News to them
• When we restore their dignity

Our Word theme tonight completes and sums up the previous: “We lift up the
poor when we seek justice for them.” Our gospel reading- the parable of the rich
man and Lazarus, provides rich lessons for those who seek Kingdom life on
earth and the hereafter. In the parable, the rich man did not lift a finger to lift up
the poor man Lazarus. He was the very picture of complacency that the Lord
decried in the first reading from Amos

The purple garments and fine linen he wore signified his regal and imperial standing. His table fare was sumptuous - rich and magnificent banquets reminiscent of kings. The parable made no mention of work. His was definitely a life of comfort and opulence.

The rich man had everything of this world, but nothing of God. But he did not welcome Lazarus into his home, who lay just outside his door. He did not invite Lazarus to his table. He did not share his resources with the poor man - not one tiny bit from his riches, not even the scraps of food that fell from his table. He did not witness to Lazarus the good news of God’s covenantal love with Israel. He did not accord Lazarus the dignity that befits a fellow child of God.

On the other hand, Lazarus had nothing of this world, but everything of God (Latin name Eleazar means “God is my help”). He was so poor, diseased and weakened that the parable described him as “lying at the rich man’s door.” He was unable to stand up and fend for himself. He had to beg to eat. He was hungry and would have eaten scraps falling from the rich man’s table. Apparently without family and friends, he was ignored, avoided and abandoned, approached only by dogs which licked his sores. Though suffering, he was uncomplaining. Lazarus had no possessions, except that which truly mattered: he had God.

Like everything in this world, earthly wealth and suffering are passing. Jesus, “the King of kings and Lord of lords…alone has immortality” Inevitably, the rich man and Lazarus died and met God’s divine justice. Lazarus, because of his reliance on God, was carried by angels to the eternal comfort of the bosom of Abraham. The rich man, because of his selfishness, was consigned to the eternal torment of the netherworld. There, he discovered that his and Lazarus’ earthly states had been reversed. Lazarus was comforted; the rich man was tormented. The rich man was now the beggar. Yet his old self-absorption and low regard for Lazarus remained. He begged Father Abraham to send Lazarus to cool his tongue with water from the tip of his finger. His tears did him no good, as there was no way the great chasm between heaven and hell can be bridged after death.

The rich man made his final appeal to warn his five brothers – who represented a society which did nothing to alleviate the plight of the poor - that they may repent of their selfishness. Father Abraham’s response speaks to us too. Repentance must flow out of love of God and obedience to His commandments. St. Paul reinforces and simplifies the command, “…keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Tim 6:14). The commandment to keep is kingdom love.

Our value before God does not lie in our wealth, looks or stature, but in our heart of love, a love that lifts up all persons, most specially the poor. Jesus is the model of lifting up the poor: “for your sake, He became poor though He was rich, so that by His poverty you might become rich” (2 Tm 8:9).

As Catholics, we must come together with a common conviction that we can no longer tolerate the moral scandal of poverty in our land and so much hunger and deprivation in our world. As believers, we can debate how best to overcome these realities, but we must be united in our determination to do so. Our faith teaches us that poor people are not issues or problems but sisters and brothers in God's one human family.

As Catholics, we are called to be "ever more faithful witnesses of God's love and justice, protecting the dignity of all God's children, especially the poor and vulnerable." As our nation and world confront terrorism, war, and violence, we recall the words of Pope Paul VI, "If you want peace, work for justice."

With our Church under challenge, the world confronted by terror and haunted by conflict, we must focus our individual and collective efforts on issues of poverty and human dignity now!

• Our faith calls us to it. The Gospel and Catholic social teaching place our service of the poor and vulnerable and our work for justice at the center of Christian witness.
• Our nation needs it. A sixth of our children are growing up poor in the richest nation on earth. The blessings and burdens of American life are not being shared equitably. In the Philippines, over 3 million families live below the poverty line, and are experiencing hunger daily. Millions are homeless or living in shanties.
• Our world requires it. More than 30,000 children die every day from hunger, deprivation, and their consequences. Disease and debt, corruption and conflict are threatening the lives and dignity of millions around the world.
• Our salvation demands it. In Jesus' description of the Last Judgment, the critical question is "What did you do for the least of these?" Jesus identified himself with the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the imprisoned, and the stranger, insisting that when we serve them we serve him.
• Our actions can make a difference. In the face of these challenges, our community of faith must continue to preach the Gospel and pursue the Church's evangelizing and social mission. We can help shape a world where the lives and dignity of all people are respected and protected.

In his hometown synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus outlined his mission and ours: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me . . . he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free." In these challenging times, this mission of Jesus is our way forward and our urgent task.

Before Jesus returned to the Father, He commissioned His disciples, and all other disciples who will come to believe Him through them, to go and make disciples of all nations. We are to go to all nations, cross every border, throw wide every door to proclaim that You, Lord Jesus, are Lord of all, our Savior who will break sin’s oppression, break the yoke of poverty, that Your kingdom may be established in all, where You will reign with glory and justice and peace. Yes Lord, we will cross every border…